SCIENCEPEDIA

Viruses are small parasites that may only survive inside the a living organism or cell. Many bacteria are measured in micrometres, where as viruses are measured in nanometres which are 1 1000th of the size. Viruses are made up of nucleic acids: RNA or DNA (any virus can only contain one). The difference between a virus and another cell is that viruses lack the ability to read and act upon the information inside the RNA or DNA. When a virus gains a capsid (a shell of proteins allowing the virus to function), it is called a virion. This virion is the completed virus. To reproduce a virus, a virus sends its nucleic acid into a host cell that then produces more viruses.

The purpose of a virus is to deliver its nucleic acid to the host cell, in order for it to be translated. Translation is when a protein is produced by the information in the nucleic acid. For a virus to get inside a living being, it needs a way in. Wounds and the repertory system are ideal. Once inside the virus will find a way into the cell. The way it gets in varies between viruses. Some burrow is, some engulf the cell, some are engulfed by the cell; it all depends of the type of virus.

Viruses can be used in medicine. They can be used to target pathogenic bacteria. A highly specific virus may only target a certain cell, as to not disrupt all of the bacteria beneficial to the human body. Viruses can also be used as carriers of certain genomes into host cells. This, of course, would have to be highly specialized and specific, as not to bring harm to the patients. Viruses can also be put into a host in a weakened or dead state, so that the body can recognize and then fight it off, without causing any harm. Then when the mature virus enters the body, the immune system will know how to kill it.