Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

5.1: Why It Matters- Viruses

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    43825

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Why identify different viruses and the methods they use to infect humans?

    A young woman reading a textbook.It’s late October and Kendra’s studying when she gets a text from her mom: “Have you gotten your flu shot yet?” Kendra sets down her book to text her mom that, no she hasn’t had the time yet; classes have been keeping her really busy this semester. Besides, she got her flu shot last year. Her mom responds informing Kendra that her local drug store has a flu shot kiosk—one that promises a quick and easy vaccination. “If there’s a line, you could study while you wait!” her mom concludes.

    Kendra tells her mom she’ll think about it, but that she really needs to get back to studying. A few minutes later, Kendra gets a text from her mom: it’s an article explaining why people should get a flu shot every year. As Kendra reads on, she learns that the flu virus changes from year to year. She pauses in her reading: does this mean viruses are alive? They would have to be to change, right?

    In this module, we’ll learn about viruses: how they function and how they infect people and animals. And, of course, we’ll determine whether or not they’re alive.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Discuss the basics of virus discovery, evolution, and classification
    • Describe a viral infection and explain what impact an infection has on its host
    • Compare vaccinations and antiviral drugs as medical approaches to viruses
    • Describe prions and viroids

    Contributors and Attributions

    CC licensed content, Original
    • Why It Matters: Viruses. Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
    CC licensed content, Shared previously

    5.1: Why It Matters- Viruses is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    1. Back to top
    • Was this article helpful?

    Recommended articles

    1. Article type
      Section or Page
      OER program or Publisher
      Lumen
    2. Tags
      1. source[1]-chem-223522