Viral replication

Cards (9)

What are the key characteristics of a virus structure? 
They're much smaller than prokaryotic cells.
They're simpler than prokaryotic cells and do not have a plasma membrane, cytoplasm or ribosomes.
They have a nucleic acid core (RNA/DNA), a capsid and some have an envelope outer layer.
Do viruses go under cell division? Explain why. 
No as they're non-living.
What does parasitic mean? 
They can only reproduce by infecting living cells (host cells).
What is stage one of viral replication? 
The virus uses its attachment proteins to attach to receptors embedded in the cell surface membrane of the bacteria (host cell)
What is stage 2? 
The cell may engulf the virus by endocytosis or the virus may inject it's genetic material in the bacteria/host cell.
Either way the genetic material ends up inside.
What is stage 3? 
The viral DNA is replicated using the host cell's enzymes.
What is stage 4?  
New viral proteins are made using the viral DNA and the host cell's ribosomes. To do this, the viral DNA is transcribes and translated to make viral proteins.
What is stage 5? 
Mature viruses are assembled within the cell using the viral DNA and proteins.
What is stage 6? 
The viruses lyse open the bacteria- causes the bacteria cell to rupture and die.