Virus: Difference between revisions
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A virus is a non-living [[Obligate|obligate]] [[Intracellular|intracellular]] [[Parasite|parasite]]. They can only replicate inside of a living [[Cell|cell]] as they lack the necessary [[Enzymes|enzymes]] and molecular building blocks to be self sufficient. Viruses can be classified by structure (icosahedral, enveloped, complex etc), [[Genome|genome]] ([[Retroviruses|retroviruses]] have an [[RNA|RNA]] genome) or by the route through transcription (Baltimore classification). | A virus is a non-living [[Obligate|obligate]] [[Intracellular|intracellular]] [[Parasite|parasite]]. They can only replicate inside of a living [[Cell|cell]] as they lack the necessary [[Enzymes|enzymes]] and molecular building blocks to be self sufficient. Viruses can be classified by structure (icosahedral, enveloped, complex etc), [[Genome|genome]] ([[Retroviruses|retroviruses]] have an [[RNA|RNA]] genome) or by the route through transcription (Baltimore classification). | ||
They have a large [[Glycoprotein|protein]] coat, called a capsid, which is formed from many repeating protein subunits which join non-covalently to produce a large icosahedron sphere. Inside this sphere is where the virus' free [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acids]] are kept. The structure of this sphere is such that is protects the [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acid]] but also allows the [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acid]] to exit so it can go on to infect other cells<ref>Alberts, B. Johnson, A. Lewis, J. Raff, M. Roberts, K. Walter, P. (2008) Molecular Biology Of The Cell. Fifth Edition, New York:Garland Science(148-149)</ref>. | They have a large [[Glycoprotein|protein]] coat, called a [[capsid|capsid]], which is formed from many repeating protein subunits which join non-covalently to produce a large icosahedron sphere. Inside this sphere is where the virus' free [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acids]] are kept. The structure of this sphere is such that is protects the [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acid]] but also allows the [[Nucleic acid|nucleic acid]] to exit so it can go on to infect other cells<ref>Alberts, B. Johnson, A. Lewis, J. Raff, M. Roberts, K. Walter, P. (2008) Molecular Biology Of The Cell. Fifth Edition, New York:Garland Science(148-149)</ref>. | ||
Although biology has shown proof that there is a linkage between the viruses infecting the trinity of life domains- archaea, bacteria and eukarya to its historical root of origin, as of today, viruses are not considered to be part of the “universal tree of life , which is thus only a tree of cellular life” <ref>Brussow, H. (2009). The not so universal tree of life or the place of viruses in the living world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1527), pp.2263-2274.</ref>. | Although biology has shown proof that there is a linkage between the viruses infecting the trinity of life domains- archaea, bacteria and eukarya to its historical root of origin, as of today, viruses are not considered to be part of the “universal tree of life , which is thus only a tree of cellular life” <ref>Brussow, H. (2009). The not so universal tree of life or the place of viruses in the living world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1527), pp.2263-2274.</ref>. | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 17 October 2015
A virus is a non-living obligate intracellular parasite. They can only replicate inside of a living cell as they lack the necessary enzymes and molecular building blocks to be self sufficient. Viruses can be classified by structure (icosahedral, enveloped, complex etc), genome (retroviruses have an RNA genome) or by the route through transcription (Baltimore classification).
They have a large protein coat, called a capsid, which is formed from many repeating protein subunits which join non-covalently to produce a large icosahedron sphere. Inside this sphere is where the virus' free nucleic acids are kept. The structure of this sphere is such that is protects the nucleic acid but also allows the nucleic acid to exit so it can go on to infect other cells[1].
Although biology has shown proof that there is a linkage between the viruses infecting the trinity of life domains- archaea, bacteria and eukarya to its historical root of origin, as of today, viruses are not considered to be part of the “universal tree of life , which is thus only a tree of cellular life” [2].
References
- ↑ Alberts, B. Johnson, A. Lewis, J. Raff, M. Roberts, K. Walter, P. (2008) Molecular Biology Of The Cell. Fifth Edition, New York:Garland Science(148-149)
- ↑ Brussow, H. (2009). The not so universal tree of life or the place of viruses in the living world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1527), pp.2263-2274.