Discussion guide for Viruses
What are the absolute minimal components of a virus?
- Nucleic acid genome
- Capsid
- Spike
What kinds of shapes can capsids take?
- Helical = capsomers arranged in a long tube with genome between them
- Icosahedral = geometric shape with 20 sides and 12 corners (size varies based on number of capsomers in
capsid)
Draw and label the basic parts of an enveloped virus and a naked virus.
What is the size range of viral particles?
What are the absolute minimal components of a virus?
- Nucleic acid genome
- Capsid
- Spike
What kinds of shapes can capsids take?
- Helical = capsomers arranged in a long tube with genome between them
- Icosahedral = geometric shape with 20 sides and 12 corners (size varies based on number of capsomers in
capsid)
Draw and label the basic parts of an enveloped virus and a naked virus.
What is the size range of viral particles?