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viruses are specific to the cells they infect called host cells

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Q: Are viruses general or specific to the cells that they infect?
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Related questions

Are viruses general or highly specific to the cells they can infect?

Highly specific


What are most viruses highly specific to the cells they infect?

somehow


Why cant every virus infect every living cell?

Viruses can only infect specific cells that have the necessary receptors on their surface for the virus to attach to. Each virus is adapted to infect specific types of cells based on these interactions. This specificity limits the range of cells that a virus can successfully infect.


Why are most viruses highly specific to cells they infects?

viruses must bind precisely to proteins on the cell surface and than use a hosts genetic system, this is why most viruses are highly specific to the cells they infect


What did the first viruses do?

Infect cells.


What are viruses that infect bacteria called?

Viruses that infect bacteria are called bacteriophages, or phages. They are specific to infecting and replicating within bacterial cells.


Are viruses always larger than cells they infect?

No, viruses are generally much smaller than cells they infect. Viruses are considered to be submicroscopic in size and are typically measured in nanometers, while cells are much larger and can be seen with a microscope.


What is the pathogen attacks specific cells and injects genetic materials?

Viruses attach specific cells and inject genetic material. There are viruses called bacteriophages that infect bacteria be injecting their genetic material into the bacterial host and invading their protein machinery. With animal viruses that infect animal cells (much larger than bacteria), the virus either injects genetic material OR gets into the cell whole before it begins to unleash its pathogenic effects


Why are viruses hard to cultivate in the laboratory?

Viruses are hard to cultivate in the laboratory because they require living host cells to replicate. This dependency on living cells makes it challenging to maintain viruses outside of a host organism. Additionally, viruses can be very specific about the types of cells they can infect, which further complicates the cultivation process.


What types of organisms does bacteriophage attack?

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. They do not infect human cells or other eukaryotic organisms. Bacteriophages are specific to infecting particular bacterial species or strains.


Can a virus infect any type of cell?

No, viruses are specific to certain types of cells they can infect based on specific molecules on the cell's surface that the virus can attach to. This is known as the host range of a virus.


What is the part of the cell that viruses invade?

Viruses invade host cells by attaching to specific receptors on the cell membrane, allowing them to enter the cell. Once inside, the virus releases its genetic material and uses the host cell's machinery to replicate.