StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Viruses & Cells Comparison - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The essay "Viruses & Cells Comparison" discusses the major similarity and differences between the living cells and viruses. Despite the shared similarities, living cells and viruses are still different. They are classified differently because of the inherent structural and functional differences…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.8% of users find it useful
Viruses & Cells Comparison
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Viruses & Cells Comparison"

Viruses & Cells Comparison According to Patton, cells are the basic building blocks in any living thing (50). The bodies of living things are made up of trillions of cells which provide it with structure, and also taking up nutrients and converting them into energy. The yielded energy is then used for specialized functions within the organism. A virus on the other had refers to an infectious agent made up of a genetic material and surrounded by a protein shell. The genetic material carries the hereditary traits of the virus to the offspring.

It can either be the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or even the ribonucleic acid (RNA). Kaku, Sarai and Murakami note that viruses are similar to cells in many ways (410). However, viruses are not classified as living things. The two have similarity and differences in terms of structure and functions.The first major similarity between the living cells and viruses is that they both contain genetic materials. Although the structure of viruses vary, Sarnow states that all viruses contain either the RNA or DNA strand (2810).

This makes them similar to the living cells which also have such genetic materials. The second similarity between the living cells and viruses is that they reproduce. It is however worth noting that the mode of reproduction in the cells and that in the viruses differ as the latter depends on the host. The final similar is the both living cells and viruses can cause harm to other existing living cells.Despite the shared similarities, living cells and viruses are still different. They are classified differently because of the inherent structural and functional differences.

Unlike living cells which can reproduce on their own, viruses have to rely on other cells for them to reproduce. Viruses lack other cells parts like the plasma membrane, ribosomes and the cytoplasm. They, therefore, infest a living host and use its cells to reproduce. Secondly, living cells are self-sustaining while the viruses are not. Living cells are able to survive on their own because they have all the required structures and proteins which allow them to carry out life sustaining processes and functions.

Viruses, on the other hand, have to rely on a host cell or organism. The third difference is that living cells can synthesize proteins while viruses cannot. Cells have ribosomes and can easily synthesize proteins on their own. Viruses lack these ribosomes and have to rely on the host cells to be able to translate its messenger RNA into the viral proteins. According to Grifo and Tahara, viruses do not have the ability to generate and store energy in form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as in the case with living cells (5804).

They derive their energy and all other metabolic functions from the host living cells. They do this by using basics building materials like Amino acids, lipids and nucleotides from the host organism. Finally, viruses cannot respond to stimuli as it is the case of the living cells. Viruses are inert chemicals which cannot perform critical life functions or even responding to stimuli.Works CitedGrifo, James and Tahara, Stanley. New Initiation Factor Activity Required for Globin mRNA Translation. J. Biol. Chem. 258. 12 (2013):5804-5810. Print.Kaku, Yau, Sarai, Akinori and Murakami, Joseph.

“Genetic Reclassification of Porcine Enteroviruses. J. Gen. Virol. 82.6 (2001):417-424. Print.Patton, John. Segmented Double-stranded RNA Viruses: Structure and Molecular Biology. New York: Horizon Scientific Press. Print.Sarnow, Peter. “Viral Internal Ribosome Entry Site Elements: Novel Ribosome-RNA Complexes and Roles in Viral Pathogenesis.” J. Virol. 77. 7 (2003): 2801-2820. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Viruses & Cells Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/biology/1699299-viruses-cells-comparison-essay
(Viruses & Cells Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/biology/1699299-viruses-cells-comparison-essay.
“Viruses & Cells Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/biology/1699299-viruses-cells-comparison-essay.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Viruses & Cells Comparison

HIV Related Kaposi Sarcoma

Classic Kaposi sarcoma is more common in the male population in comparison to the female population with a 3:1 ratio (Franceschi & Geddes 1995).... But eventually as the microscopic advancement revealed the inner depth of tissues, its pathogenesis became more evident and it was clear that the Kaposi Sarcoma lesion composed of different types of cells....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Process Of Cell Division In Animals

The data presented shows 30% adenosine and 20% thymine, and 30% guanine in comparison to 20% cytosine.... Every eukaryotic cell has a repeating set of events known as cell cycle which results in cell growth and division into two daughter cells.... Every eukaryotic cell has a repeating set of events known as cell cycle which results in cell growth and division into two daughter cells.... Only the cells with repaired DNA are allowed to enter the M phase....
4 Pages (1000 words) Coursework

Avian Influenza as an Infection Which is Caused by the H5N1 Virus

This facilitates in the exchange of gene segments between two different strains of viruses which coincidentally happen to be infecting the same cell.... The natural hosts of this virus are wild birds, in particular waterfowls, who carry these viruses in their intestines while themselves remaining asymptomatic (Auewaraku 404)....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

The Term Cancer

Most of the cancer cells have large nuclei in comparison to the surrounding normal tissue cells and the nuclei of the cancerous cells contain abnormal number of chromosomes, a condition known as aneuploidy.... The cancer cells have differences in metabolism in comparison to normal cells.... Cancer is an abnormal production of the cells of an organism which are proliferated in an uncontrolled way and may spread from the site of their origin.... These may be the swellings of any tissue of the… Neoplasm is defined by a British oncologist Willis as “Abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissue and persists in the same There are many different types of cancers originating in the human body owing to the different types of cells in the body....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Study of Avian Influenza

In comparison, the virus in a lysogenic cycle reproduces without killing the cell (Brooker 379).... Lytic cycle is whereby the virus invades the genetic material of the host animal and subsequently exploit the host cells to reproduce till the cells rupture hence killing them.... The cells responsible for this process are B-cells and T-cells.... T-cells kills the cells infected with the virus and trigger production of cells referred to as interferon that slows down its reproduction (Nathanson 88)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Immunological Basis of Disease

comparison of bronchial tissues from asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients by bronchial examination and biopsy.... The "Immunological Basis of Disease" paper analizes such researches as "Mast cells promote airway smooth muscle cell differentiation via autocrine up-regulation of TGF-β1" by Woodman, L.... The immunohistochemistry of the proximal airway of bronchial biopsies was conducted by staining them with monoclonal antibodies against smooth muscle actin, and tryptase for mast cells, followed by image analysis....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Measurement of Drug-Induced Cell Damage Using Lactate Dehydrogenase

hellip; Serum concentrations of 10% are necessary for the growth and viability of cells in the culture medium.... Attempts to reduce background LDH activity by minimizing the amount of serum in the media by using 1% FBS, mainly used for maintenance of culture cells without affecting cell survival or promoting growth, resulted in high toxicity of the cells.... Results suggest that LDH can be used to quantitatively measure doxorubicin-induced damage H40 cells....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

Protecting against Serious Threats against Computer Systems and Networks

The author of the paper "Protecting against Serious Threats against Computer Systems and Networks" states that we are no longer safe in this world we live in.... There is always one person out there waiting to attack us in any way possible.... Even our computer systems are no longer safe.... hellip; Vital information can be stolen in an instant from our government, which could be sold over the black market to terrorist organizations who could potentially use that information against us and possibly destroy the backbone of this fine country....
5 Pages (1250 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us