Chapter 6, Problem 1VC

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether there are more deaths caused by microorganisms that may be accounted for by influenza, pneumonia, diarrhea, HIV, and tuberculosis.

Concept introduction:

A virus is a biological enigma. It cannot be seen through the naked eyes. Viruses are made up of protein coat in which their genetic material is present. They contain either double stranded or single stranded DNA or RNA as their genetic material. These resemble the characteristics of viruses and they can only replicate using the machinery of the host cell.

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The total deaths (roughly) that might be caused by viruses.

Concept introduction:

Viruses are “obligate intracellular parasites” that cannot replicate outside the living cell. They contain genetic material that cannot duplicate on its own. Thus, they infect other living cells and use their protein synthesis machinery to replicate viral parts and genetic material.