Viruses by Caitlin

Mankind has fought battles with viruses for centuries. They are so small that they have to be measured in nanometers, which is nearly a thousand times smaller than what we use to measure bacteria with (micrometers). There are many different ways that a virus can enter the body. They can do it through ingestion, inhalation, and direct contact. Viruses are essentially RNA or DNA encased in a coat of protein. They come in a variety of shapes, but they all have a head with RNA or DNA enclosed in it, and a tail which is used to attach to a cell’s receptors.

  

Once a virus attaches itself to a cell, it either goes through the lytic cycle or the lysogenic cycle. In the lytic cycle, the virus injects its DNA or RNA into the host cell, and begins taking over the cell’s metabolic activities. Since the virus has control over the cell, it is able to replicate itself fairly quickly. The many replicates of the virus burst open the host cell and then go on to infect more cells. In the lysogenic cycle, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host cell’s genetic material instead of destroying it. Each time the host cell reproduces, so does the virus. Viruses that undergo the lysogenic cycle can stay dormant for years at a time.

Thankfully, scientists have created vaccines against some of the viruses. Vaccines can help protect us from becoming fatally infected with a virus. How different do you think our society would be now if scientists hadn’t invented the vaccine?

Three Interesting Facts:

1.    It is believed that there are 1 million different types of viruses here on Earth.

2.    It is widely debated whether or not if viruses are nonliving or living.

3.    The first recorded viral infection dates back to 3700 B.C.