1. The Zombie Apocalypse – ARE YOU PREPARED?

2. 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!

3. 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!

4. General Characteristics of Viruses

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

6. 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

7. 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!

8. 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!

9. 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!

10. 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.

11. There are about 1031 viruses on Earth
There are about 1031 viruses on Earth. As in, …
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.

12. Prevention
Antibody Immune Response
Vaccinations
How do vaccines work?

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

14. 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!

15. 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.

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

17. 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!

18. 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!

19. 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.

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

21. I respond to my environment.
Cell
Virus
Both
Cell!

22. Which is smaller?
Cell
Virus
Depends
Virus!

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

24. 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.

25. 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!