BIOL 2900 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Viral Envelope, Computer Virus, Cell Membrane

• School: York University
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 2900
• Professor: Malini Persaud

Document Summary

One or several pieces of nucleic acid dna/rna. Nucleic acid: is the genetic material (genome) of the virus. All about viruses: acellular viruses have no cytoplasmic membrane (some have envelope, viruses lack cytosol and functional organelles, some viruses can form crystals, not capable of metabolic activity on their own. Instead, once a virus has invaded a cell, they take control of the cells metabolism to produce more molecules of the viral nucleic acid and viral proteins. *biological virus is similar to a computer virus inactive + harmless until it infects host. Before it invades a host cell, a virus is in the extracellular state". An extracellular virus is called a virion . In this form, the virus consists of a protein coat (capsid) surrounding nucleic acid, together its called nucleocaspid(can crystallize). In addition, some viruses have phospholipid envelope surrounding the capsid. This outermost layer provides protection and recognition sites for host cells.