Communicable Disease - Viruses
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.1.4
Viruses
Viruses are tiny, non-living (do not have cells) particles that can reproduce rapidly within the body.
Invasion
- To survive and replicate, they invade host cells (animals or plant cells).
Replication
- The virus particle inserts its own DNA into the host cell’s DNA, which is then copied and used to make more viruses.
Invaded cells burst
- Once the new virus particles have been synthesised (made), they cause the cell to burst.
- This releases the new viruses to invade more cells.
Illness
- This cell damage makes us feel ill.
Test yourself on Communicable Disease - Viruses
Which of the following statements are true of viruses?
Viral Reproduction
Why do viruses invade host cells?
Why does a virus insert its own DNA into a host cell's DNA?
Why do we feel ill when viruses reproduce inside our cells?