Chapter 46.4, Problem 4CC

Summary Introduction

To determine: The nature of coordination of events in the reproductive cycle of a human female and the replicative cycle of an enveloped RNA virus.

Concept introduction:

The reproductive cycle of human females is regulated by the hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries. They coordinate to cause ovulation leading to release of egg from its ovarian follicle and thickening of the endometrium for the implantation of a fertilized egg. The viral replicative cycle includes formation of structural proteins such as capsid, matrix, and coat proteins. In enveloped RNA viruses, the capsid proteins form a coat around the viral genome.