Classification Of Viruses example essay topic

Viruses: Complex Molecules or Simple Life Forms? Viruses have been defined as 'entities whose genomes are elements of nucleic acid that replicate inside living cells using the cellular synthetic machinery, and cause the synthesis of specialised elements that can transfer the genome to other cells. ' They are stationary and are unable to grow. Because of all these factors, it is debatable whether viruses are the most complex of molecules or the simplest life forms. While the definition of living organisms must be adapted, the majority of evidence leads to the classification of viruses as living organisms. Viruses are composed of a nucleic acid core, a protein capsid, and occasionally a membraneous envelope.

The nucleic acid core is composed of either DNA or in the case of retroviruses, RNA, but never both. In retroviruses, the RNA gets transcribed to DNA bye the enzyme reverse. The protein capsid is a protein layer that wraps around the virus. There are four basic shapes of viruses.

The tobacco, adenovirus, influenza virus, and-even bacteriophage are each examples of a different virus structure. Each individual protein subunit composing the capsid is a. The tobacco virus has a helical capsid and is rod shaped. The adenovirus is polyhedral and has a protein spike at each vertex.

The influenza virus is made of a flexible, helical capsid. It has an outer that is covered with glycoprotein spikes. The T-even bacteriophage consists of a polyhedral head and a tail. The tail is used to inject DNA into a bacterium while the head stores the DNA. Basic life is defined as the simplest form capable of displaying the most essential attributes of a living thing. This makes the only real criterion for life the ability to replicate.

Only systems containing nucleic acids are capable of this phenomenon. With this reasoning, a better definition is the unit element of a continuous lineage with an individual evolutionary history. Because of viruses inability to survive when not in a host, they must have evolved from other forms of life. The origin of viruses is an easy thing to theorize about so many hypotheses e have been made.

One such hypothesis is that viruses were once complete living parasites. Over time they have lost all other cellular components. This is backed up by the idea that all cells degenerate over time. Some people think along very similar lines that viruses are representatives of an early 'nearly living's tage of life.

This goes along with the first hypothesis in that it accounts for a loss of components. All creatures that become parasitic can be seen losing their obsolete functions and structures. An example of this is the flea. Fleas are evolved from flies but have discarded their unneeded wings. This theory when applied suggests that at least some branches of viruses have evolved from bacteria because of their similar natures.

Scientists say that at one point viruses could have been. As they slowly became parasitic, the used structures for protein and energy synthesis were lost, along with the inhibiting cell wall. While viruses do need a host cell to complete many important functions of living organisms, the should still be considered living themselves. The ability to replicate is important to the classification of an item as living.

Within the host, viruses are able to replicate, evolve, and even mutate. They are deeply intertwined in the life process by on a host. Viruses are very specific to what they can use as a host. Despite the specific ness, many viruses can host with members of different species, genus, and even phylum's. A lock and key fit determines the host, or ho strange.

This works vert similar to that of an enzymes active site. Once the virus has found a host cell, the virus uses the host's nucleotides and enzymes to replicate it's DNA. Other materials and machinery of the host cell produce the virus's capsid proteins. The viral DNA and proteins then join to make a new copy of the virus. While viruses are inactive when in transport between hosts, are overwhelmingly in favor of considering viruses living organisms. Through their parasitic nature, they are able to fulfill most qualities of living organisms.

Their behavior and complexness also lead to this classification. While they are not the text book example of living organisms, is has been in agreement that there always will be exceptions to the rules. Viruses deserve to take their rightful place among the ranks of living organisms.