Virus Review Questions
1. Explain why viruses are not considered to be living
organisms.
2. Describe 2 structures that are characteristic of all
viruses.
3. Differentiate between the lytic and lysogenic cycle.
4. Describe the structure of viroids and prions.
5. Why is it possible for some viral diseases to remain
undetected for years?
1. Explain why viruses are not considered to be
living organisms.
Answer: Viruses are not considered to be living
because they cannot reproduce on their own, do
not grow, do not carry out metabolic activities,
and are not made of cells.
2. Describe 2 structures that are characteristic of
all viruses.
Answer: Nucleic Acids (DNA or RNA) and a
capsid
3. Differentiate between the lytic and lysogenic
cycle.
Answer: The lytic cycle involves rupturing the
host cell to produce new viruses. The lysogenic
cycle involves viral genetic material becoming
embedded in the host cell and being replicated
with the host cell.
4. Describe the structure of viroids and prions.
Answer: Viroids are a single strand of RNA that
can replicate inside a host cell. Prions are
misshapen versions of proteins that cause
normal proteins to change shape and stop
functioning.
5. Why is it possible for some viral diseases to
remain undetected for years?
Answer: Lysogenic viruses can remain
undetected inside a host cell for years. The viral
genetic material is replicated with the host cell
and does not cause any symptoms. Eventually,
the virus may enter the lytic cycle and cause
illness in the host.