What is a virus?
Q: What is a virus?
A: A virus is a microscopic organism that can infect living cells and cause disease.
Q: How do viruses express parasitism?
A: Viruses express parasitism by taking nutrition from the host cell and using its metabolic machinery to synthesize new virus particles.
Q: Is viral chemotherapy possible?
A: Initially, viral chemotherapy was considered impossible as it would require interference with cellular metabolism in the host. However, advances in medical technology have made it possible to target specific viruses for treatment.
Q: What are some of the effects of viruses on their hosts?
A: Viruses can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the type of virus and the individual's immune system. Common effects include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, they may also lead to organ failure or death.
Q: How does a virus reproduce?
A: A virus reproduces by hijacking a host cell’s metabolic machinery to produce more copies of itself. This process usually results in damage or destruction of the infected cell once enough copies have been produced.
Q: Are all viruses harmful?
A: Not all viruses are harmful; some actually provide beneficial functions such as helping plants defend against pests or aiding bacteria in breaking down food sources into energy-rich molecules for other organisms to use.
