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Does anyone know the difference between eukaryotic viruses and prokaryotic viruses? I know the difference between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells but dont know if the same principles apply to viruses?
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#2
Viruses are not considered prokaryotes nor eukaryotes because they aren’t cells. They aren’t considered ‘living’ because they aren’t able to replicate and divide independent of a host cell. Viruses are much much smaller than prokaryotes, and lack organelles. Viruses only have a circular strand of DNA or RNA inside a protein coat and capsid. It has no other organelle.
Hope this helped.
Hope this helped.
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#3
The above is true, viruses are neither Eukaryotic or Prokaryotic, but do you mean what's the differences between the viruses that infect Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells? If so i'll list a few:
1) Prokaryotic cells have a peptidoglycan layer, unlike Eukaryotes, meaning viruses infecting Prokaryotic cells (bacteriophages) have evolved a means of penetrating this layer - usually via a tail that injects through the layer into the cell membrane and peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes.
2) When bacteriophages inject their tails into the cell, they pump their genetic material into the cell and it is only the genetic material that enters the cell. Most (but not all) animal and plant viruses enter cells via membrane-fusion or endocytosis - which means the full viral capsid (and sometimes envelope) is engulfed in vesicles.
These are just trends though, there's always exceptions.
1) Prokaryotic cells have a peptidoglycan layer, unlike Eukaryotes, meaning viruses infecting Prokaryotic cells (bacteriophages) have evolved a means of penetrating this layer - usually via a tail that injects through the layer into the cell membrane and peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes.
2) When bacteriophages inject their tails into the cell, they pump their genetic material into the cell and it is only the genetic material that enters the cell. Most (but not all) animal and plant viruses enter cells via membrane-fusion or endocytosis - which means the full viral capsid (and sometimes envelope) is engulfed in vesicles.
These are just trends though, there's always exceptions.
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