The Zombie Apocalypse – ARE YOU PREPARED?

What kingdom of life do viruses belong to? Archaebacteria Eubacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia Trick Question! Viruses do not belong to any of these kingdoms. Why?? Viruses are not considered to be alive!

Remember! Characteristics of Living Things Made of cells Can reproduce Contain a universal genetic code Grow and develop Obtain and use materials and energy Respond to the environment Maintain homeostasis Change over time Viruses are not considered living, because they do not have all of these characteristics!

General Characteristics of Viruses

Viruses insert their genetic material into a host cell. DNA or RNA HIV video

Viruses are species-specific. Viruses attach to cells by recognizing certain proteins on cell membranes. Like a lock & key Can only cross-species if it mutates, which is possible Rabies Virus

Viruses mutate quickly. Why & how do viruses mutate? To adapt & evolve Mutates by changing the genetic code That’s why you have to get a new flu shot every year!

Viruses are SUPER SMALL! Fun Fact! If the average virus were the size of the average human, a bacterial cell would be the size of a dinosaur over ten stories tall! http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/

That’s not what causes the growths! Tree Man Dede Koswara was born with an immune defect (his immune system is weak). That’s not what causes the growths!

Tree Man When he was a child, Dede cut his knee outside & it was infected with the Human Papilloma Virus. His immune system is so weak, his body can’t fight the virus.

There are about 1031 viruses on Earth There are about 1031 viruses on Earth. As in, 10000000000000000000000000000000… There are over 10 million times more viruses on Earth than there are stars in the universe. If you were to stack 1 virus on top of another, they’d stretch past the moon, past the sun, past the edge of the milky way to reach a height of 200 million light years! If you get sick with the flu, there could be up to 100 trillion viruses in your body in just a few days. WE CAN’T HIDE.

Prevention Antibody Immune Response Vaccinations How do vaccines work?

Vaccines Contain dead/weakened forms of the virus When injected, your body begins to create antibodies against the virus.

Antibodies binding to a virus invader! Vaccines Antibodies are proteins that recognize invaders in your body. If an antibody finds a virus, the virus will be destroyed. Your immune system will remember the virus so that it can’t make you sick in the future! Antibodies binding to a virus invader!

Can viruses be killed? Viruses are not alive, so they can’t be killed! Anti-viral medications work by somehow BLOCKING the virus, not by killing it.

Viruses can be the good guys, too! Researchers are using viruses to deliver medicine to specific cells. Viral Therapy Delivers Double Blow to Cancer

Both! Cells use DNA, while viruses can use DNA or RNA! I contain nucleic acid as genetic material. Cell Virus Both Both! Cells use DNA, while viruses can use DNA or RNA!

Cell! Above are new viruses bursting from a cell! I can grow and develop. Cell Virus Both Cell! Above are new viruses bursting from a cell!

Cell! Viruses CANNOT reproduce on their own. They need a host cell. I reproduce on my own. Cell Virus Both Cell! Viruses CANNOT reproduce on their own. They need a host cell.

I obtain and use materials and energy. Cell Virus Both Cell!

I respond to my environment. Cell Virus Both Cell!

Which is smaller? Cell Virus Depends Virus!

Cell! These are red blood cells. This is a picture of me: Cell Virus Both Cell! These are red blood cells.

Virus! This is a virus infecting a bacterial cell. This is a picture of me: Cell Virus Both Virus! This is a virus infecting a bacterial cell.

Before you leave… Answer the following question on a sheet of paper (share!): After your introduction to viruses, do you still believe that viruses are living? Form your own opinion; there is still much debate about this in the scientific world!