Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 20.4, Problem 2TC
Biotechnologists often use viruses to transfer genes from the cells of one species to the cells of another. Which properties of viruses mane them useful for this purpose?
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When Wimmer and coworkers announced that they had synthesized the poliovirus, they created considerable controversy. Some people feared that deadly and highly contagious viruses might be synthesized by bioterrorists. The researchers responded that they were merely applying current knowledge and techniques to demonstrate the principle that viruses are basically chemical entities that can be synthesized in the laboratory. Do you think scientists should synthesize viruses or other agents that can cause infectious disease? What are the implications of forbidding such research?
Describe in general terms the strategy used by single-stranded (ss) DNA viruses to synthesize their nucleic acids and proteins
Viruses are made up of the same biomolecules as cellular organisms (DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, etc.), which are synthesized through enzymatic dehydration reactions from building blocks and disassembled by enzymatic hydrolysis. They infect cells and replicate themselves using resources from the host cells. Scientists discovered a previously unknown strain of virus in the tropical Pacific Ocean and it can infect higher-order eukaryotes. Initial analysis revealed that the virus is mainly composed of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Chemical analysis after complete hydrolysis revealed the following building blocks (by weight):
Chemical components
Nucleosides
Amino acids
Lipids, phosphates, and carbohydrates
Percentage by weight
20
30
50
Analysis of percentages of nucleosides yielded the following results (by molar ratio):
Nucleosides
A
G
T
C
U
Percentage by mole
19
29
19
29
4
Which of the following events mostly involves hydrolysis reaction after the virus infects…
Chapter 20 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Ch. 20.1 - describe some differences between bacteria and...Ch. 20.1 - describe the typical sizes and shapes of...Ch. 20.2 - Unwelcome Dinner Guests A few of the bacteria that...Ch. 20.2 - describe the range of environments inhabited by...Ch. 20.2 - As part of a study on the relationship between...Ch. 20.2 - Unpleasant breath odors are caused mainly by...Ch. 20.2 - What might explain the observation that most...Ch. 20.2 - describe adaptations that help protect prokaryotes...Ch. 20.2 - Some of the enzymes that have important uses in...Ch. 20.2 - explain how prokaryotes reproduce and exchange...
Ch. 20.2 - What is the main advantage of prokaryotic fission,...Ch. 20.3 - Unwelcome Dinner Guests Many of the bacteria...Ch. 20.3 - explain how prokaryotes affect animal and plant...Ch. 20.3 - If all of Earths nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes were...Ch. 20.3 - explain prokaryotes role in nutrient recycling?Ch. 20.3 - describe how prokaryotes help clean up pollution?Ch. 20.3 - describe some of the pathogenic bacteria that...Ch. 20.4 - Unwelcome Dinner Guests How do harmful bacteria...Ch. 20.4 - describe the structure and characteristics of...Ch. 20.4 - Why are viruses unable to replicate outside of a...Ch. 20.4 - describe the effects they can have on host...Ch. 20.4 - Biotechnologists often use viruses to transfer...Ch. 20 - Prob. 1ACCh. 20 - ____________, have peptidoglycan in...Ch. 20 - The name of the process by which DNA is...Ch. 20 - Describe some of the ways in which prokaryotes...Ch. 20 - Before the discovery of prions, many (perhaps...Ch. 20 - Prokaryotic cells are ____________,...Ch. 20 - A community of prokaryotes surrounded by slime and...Ch. 20 - What are nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and what role...Ch. 20 - Many prokaryotes use ____________ to move about....Ch. 20 - Which of the following statements about archaea is...Ch. 20 - Describe some of the extreme environments in which...Ch. 20 - ____________,bacteria inhabit environments that...Ch. 20 - Viruses a. are usually photosynthetic. b. consist...Ch. 20 - What is an endospore? What is its function?Ch. 20 - Prokaryotes reproduce by ____________ and may...Ch. 20 - Applying fertilizer near an oil spill to Increase...Ch. 20 - What is conjugation? What role do plasmids play in...Ch. 20 - The plant nutrient ammonium is produced by...Ch. 20 - Why are prokaryotes especially useful in...Ch. 20 - Cholera, gonorrhea, and pneumonia are some of the...Ch. 20 - Describe the structure of a typical virus. How do...Ch. 20 - A virus consists of a molecule of __________ or...Ch. 20 - Describe some examples of how prokaryotes are...Ch. 20 - How do archaea and bacteria differ? How do...
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- Which of the following is a known characteristic that can lead to genetic changes in some viruses? Operons in the viral genome can undergo homologous recombination, leading to genetic rearrangements. Reassortment of segmented genomes can occur if a host cell is co-infected with two different viral strains. RNA polymerases used in replication of the viral genome have proofreading capability. Environmental conditions can trigger the SOS response, which triggers mutations in the viral genome.arrow_forwardThe genome of which of the following types of animal virus can act directly as MRNA and be utilized by ribosomes without prior processing? O 1) retroviruses O 2) SSDNA viruses 3) -SSRNA viruses O 4) +SSRNA viruses 5) dsDNA virusesarrow_forwardAs a general rule, viruses are not considered to be alive based on several reasons. One such reason is that some viruses use RNA as their genetic material instead of DNA. Which of the five biological themes does this violate? Briefly explain why.arrow_forward
- The table below shows the properties of the genomes of three different viruses. The data were obtained as follows: Nuclease sensitivity was measured by the ability of deoxyribonuclease (DNase) or ribonuclease (RNase) to destroy the genome (a “+" means sensitivity). The ability of the genome to act as mRNA was tested by incubating it in a cell-free system. If amino acids were incorporated into protein, the data are shown as a Finally, the virus particles were tested for the presence of a virion polymerase. If an enzyme was present, the data show whether it could polymerize deoxynucleotide triphosphates (DNTPS) or nucleoside triphosphates (NTPS). "+. Genome Properties Nuclease Virion Can Genome Sensitivity? Polymerase? Be an mRNA? Virus DNase RNase With With DNTPS NTPS #1 - - #2 - - #3 For each virus, indicate the strategy of the genome, using the Baltimore classification. What is the nature of the product of the virion polymerase when present? + + + + + +arrow_forwardWhat is the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses? a) It converts viral RNA into double-stranded DNA Ob) It uses viral RNA as a template for making complementary RNA strands Oc) It translates viral RNA into proteins d) It uses viral DNA as a template for RNA synthesisarrow_forwardWhat is the purpose of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses? It translates viral RNA into proteins. It converts host cell RNA into viral DNA. It uses viral RNA as a template for DNA synthesis. It uses viral RNA as a template for making more viral RNA strands.arrow_forward
- You are a virologist studying a newly isolated viral strain and have sequenced its genome. You find that the genome contains 25% A, 55% G, 20% C, and 10% U. Which of the following conclusions is likely correct? This is a single-stranded RNA virus This is a single-stranded DNA virus This is a double-stranded RNA virus This is a double-stranded DNA virus No conclusions can be drawn from this informationarrow_forwardResearchers have recently discovered giant viruses that are 1 μm in length, the same size as some bacterial cells. The genomes of these viruses contain over 2 million base pairs of DNA, which is more DNA than is found in many bacterial genomes, and their genomes contain hundreds—in some cases, thousands—of genes. Given these observations and what you know about viruses, should viruses be considered living or nonliving? Give arguments for and against considering viruses as living organisms.arrow_forwardIf you must create a drug or prescribe a healthy food or drink to target the Covid virus, what part of the virus will you target? Why? Show the functional groups that will interact with the specific part of Covid.arrow_forward
- Why are viruses used in gene therapy?arrow_forwardWhich of the following models best depicts how the genetic information in a retrovirus is eventually translated into proteins? A) DNA in the retrovirus → RNA in the host cell → Proteins B) RNA in the retrovirus → DNA in the host cell → RNA in the host cell → Proteins C) RNA in the retrovirus → mRNA in the host cell → Proteins D) DNA in the retrovirus → mRNA in the host cell → Proteinsarrow_forwardRemdesivir is an antiviral drug used to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections. It is a broad-spectrum antiviral, meaning it has activity against many different viruses. Remdesivir can be incorporated into a new RNA chain as a virus replicates and can interfere with the viral replication machinery. Template RNA Elongation New RNA SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase Template groove Nucleotide entrance Nucleotides Remdesivir Figure 1. A representation of remdesivir and the viral replication machinery for SARS-CoV-2. 6. Figure 1 shows that remdesivir "mimics” an important component of RNA replication. Which specific component of RNA replication has a structure like that of remdesivir? 7. Propose a hypothesis about how remdesivir might inhibit the virus's replication process.arrow_forward
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What Is A Virus ? ; Author: Peekaboo Kidz;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS7vsBgWszI;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY