Class of: 08-Apr-2016.
Today we looked at the Lysogenic life cycle of viruses and how we can prevent or stop viral infections.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will be able to explain the difference between a viral Lytic and Lysogenic reproduction cycle.
- Students will be able to describe the effect of viruses on human health, and how viral infections are prevented and stopped.
Viruses are everywhere, but we have lots of things that we can do to keep ourselves healthy! Try to get enough sleep, eat right, and (maybe) exercise a little over the weekend.
Some questions we considered during class:
- Draw a diagram of a virus and label the parts.
- How is the way a virus damages its host different than the way a bacteria does?
- Suppose a new flu epidemic begins to spread through North America. What could people do to keep themselves safe from it?
- Why do you think virus epidemics typically stop instead of eliminating all human life?
- Why would it be more difficult to design a drug that fights viruses instead of bacteria?
- Why would it be more difficult to design a drug that fights viruses in the Lysogenic cycle and easier to design one that replicate using the Lytic cycle?
- Do you think it’s possible that a virus could be useful to humans? If so, how? If not, why not?
Please be sure to review the learning objectives to prepare for a small quiz on Monday, 11-Apr-2016. It will be on what we have covered on both bacteria and viruses.