Summary of Viruses: Molecular Hijackers

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Viruses are small, genetic organisms that can hijack the cellular machinery of their host cells to replicate exponentially. The lytic cycle, in which the host cell is destroyed, is the most destructive form of viral replication. Alternately, the lysogenic cycle, in which the viral DNA is incorporated into the genome of the host cell, is less destructive, though it can still cause disease.

• 00:00:00 Viruses are small, simple molecules that can not be cultured in a test tube or Petri dish and do not have the biochemical machinery necessary to express genes. They are able to hijack the machinery of a host cell, forcing it to produce copies of the virus rather than the cellular machinery it would normally use. Some viruses are specific to certain cells and individuals, while others are able to infect any type of cell. Viruses are made of genetic material in a protein casing, and the protein shell that encloses the genetic material is called the capsid.
• 00:05:00 Viruses are small, genetic organisms that can hijack the cellular machinery of their host cells to replicate exponentially. The lytic cycle, in which the host cell is destroyed, is the most destructive form of viral replication. Alternately, the lysogenic cycle, in which the viral DNA is incorporated into the genome of the host cell, is less destructive, though it can still cause disease. Bacteria are constantly evolving and chance mutations in genes that code for surface receptor proteins may result in viruses no longer being recognized by the host cell, leading to the proliferation of viruses.