Viruses

• What is a Virus?


  An acellular, non-living particles.
• What size are they?

  They are smaller than bacteria cells, ranging in size from 20-300nm.
• Describe there genetic material.

  They contain nucleic acids such a DNA or RNA as genetic material but can only multiply inside living host cells.
• What is the nucleic acid enclosed in?

  A protein coat called the capsid.
• List the structural features of the HIV virus

  Genetic material (RNA), reverse transcriptase (enzyme), matrix, lipid envelope, capsid, attachment proteins
• What the attachment proteins used for?

  Allow the virus to identify and attach to a host cell.