Ch 19: Virus Structure & Life Cycle for the MCAT: Tutoring Solution
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- Struggle with understanding classification of viruses, virus mutation, the life cycle of a virus or any other virus structure and life cycle topic
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Learning objectives:
- Review the composition of viruses.
- Explore the various shapes viruses can have.
- Find out how viruses are classified.
- Get an overview of replication of DNA and RNA viruses.
- Examine how viruses mutate.
- Brush up on the life cycle of a virus.
- Learn about bacteriophages.
- Find out about mechanisms and diseases of the retroviridae virus family, including AIDS.

1. What Are Viruses? - Definition, Structure & Function
A virus is defined as a microscopic and extremely infectious agent that invades and spreads, once inside a host. This lesson will dive into virology (the study of viruses), the history and structure of viruses, and how these infections exist in daily life.

2. Shapes of a Virus: Helical, Icosahedral, Prolate, Complex & Enveloped
Overview key descriptions of different viral shapes. Distinguish between the purposes of helical, icosahedral, prolate, enveloped, and complex shapes.

3. Classification of Viruses: Viral Genome and Replication Scheme
Viruses are classified according to their physical and chemical characteristics. Learn about factors involved in classification, including double- and single-stranded viruses, positive and negative sense, the Baltimore classification system, and reverse transcriptase.

4. Replication of DNA Viruses
Replication of DNA viruses occurs when a host cell's polymerase makes mRNA, which is sent back to the host cell's ribosomes. Discover replication strategies, DNA viruses' entry and integration, and the whole process of DNA replication and its release.

5. Replication of RNA Viruses
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule found in cells that does many tasks for the human body, including the transformation of DNA information into proteins. Learn about RNA viruses and their replication strategies. Explore the features and viruses of RNA, such as double-stranded, positive and negative sense, and reverse transcription.

6. How Viruses Mutate: Antigenic Drift and Antigenic Shift
Viruses mutate and adapt to become more infectious. Explore the different ways viruses mutate, and learn about antigenic drive, antigenic shift, and viral recombination.

7. The Life Cycle of a Virus: How Viruses Live, Attack & Replicate
The life cycle of a virus includes several steps, including attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, maturation, and release. Explore how viruses live, attack host cells, and replicate, and then learn the difference between lysogenic and lytic life cycles.

8. Viruses: Bacteriophage Lytic and Lysogenic Cycles
Viruses can infect many organisms, even bacteria. A bacteriophage is a special kind of virus that infects bacteria. Explore the way bacteriophages replicate using the lytic and lysogenic cycle.

9. HIV and AIDS: Mechanisms and Diseases of the Retroviridae Virus Family
Explore the structure and transmission of the Retroviridae virus family, its mechanisms and related diseases. Learn how HIV replicates itself through reverse transcriptase and the role of protease. Define opportunistic infections and the relationship between HIV and AIDS.

10. What Is an Acellular Organism? - Definition & Examples
Acellular organisms, like viruses, do not have cell structure. Explore cell theory, learn about the definition and examples of acellular organisms, and discover the characteristics of viruses.
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