Lecture 17: Genetic Variation and Heredity in Cells - Viruses

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and definitions related to viruses, their structure, and their role in cell biology.

Viruses

Not made of cells; they use cells to make more viruses by taking them over and using them as a virus factory for reproduction.

Virus Structure

Particles of nucleic acid coated with protein, sometimes with a lipid envelope; reproduce by infecting host cells.

Capsid

The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid in all viruses, protecting the nucleic acid.

Enveloped Viruses

Viruses with a membranous envelope, like the influenza virus, which take some of the host cell membrane as they leave the cell.

Coronaviruses

A class of viruses that are enveloped and single-stranded RNA, causing mild flu-like or common cold symptoms.

Spike Proteins

Proteins that stick outside of the virus, used to help the virus get into the host cell; a key target for immune system recognition and vaccine development.

Nucleases

Enzymes that can degrade or break down nucleic acids, used to determine if a virus has an RNA or DNA genome.

Bacteriophage

Viruses that infect bacteria.