Biology 1001A Chapter Notes - Chapter 23: Dna Virus, Animal Virus, Bacteriophage
Document Summary
What is a virus: nonliving infectious biological particles rather than organisms, one or more nucleic acid molecule surrounded by a coat or capsid. Some capsids may be enclosed within an envelope derived from host cell membrane: genome can be dna or rna that encode for coat proteins and regulate transcription. List three features of viruses that distinguish them from living organisms: cannot reproduce on their own, lack a metabolic system, do not have cytoplasm enclosed by plasma membrane, so not a cell. Structural forms: helical viruses, protein subunits assemble in a rod-like spiral around genome. Tobacco mosaic virus: polyhedral viruses, coat proteins form triangular units that fit together like parts of a soccer ball, protein spikes extend from corners and provide host cell recognition. Hiv: complex polyhedral viruses, has a sheath and tail fibres which play a role in the infection process, head encloses viral dna, ex. 23. 2 viruses infect bacterial, animal, and plant cells by similar pathways.