What are Viruses?
9th Grade · Science · 30 min
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Learning Objective
I can describe the basic structure and function of a virus.
- 1
A virus consists of nucleic acids, either DNA or RNA, enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid.
- 2
Viruses can only replicate within a host cell by taking over the cell's molecular machinery.
- 3
Vaccines help the body's immune system recognize and fight viruses by introducing a weakened or dead version of the virus, or just its protein jacket.
