SPECIES INFO
Influenza is caused by a virus. This is probably the most feared disease in the modern world. These viruses can create new life forms. If a host cell is infected with two different influenza viruses at the same time, these viruses are capable of re-arranging their genetic code and creating a new life form. Furthermore, mutations also occur. This changing of life forms has made the creation of an effective means of control difficult.
Dr. Moore points out that there are only 8 genes in this lifeform, and that it is hard to believe such a tiny particle is alive when floating in the air. However, once inside a cell it can replicate to hundreds or thousands of individuals in a matter of hours.Influenzavirus genus contains several different disease causing organisms. Swine flu, human flu, and bird flu are in this group. In 1918 in the great swine flu pandemic between 20 and 40 million people were killed. New strains of virus can be created and medical science can be left without an effective vaccine.
The flu viruses can enter the body when a healthy person inhales air with droplets containing the virus.
Members of this family are enveloped, and helical. These viruses are capable of reassorting their gene structure during an infection.
Typical viruses include tiny organisms that contain both a nucleic acid and some proteins. Many of these cause serious illness in humans. Included herein is AIDS, yellow fever, Mumps, Measles, and Hepatitus. Estimates indicate that over 30,000 species are under study with only about 3,000 recognized.
e have lumped all the virus like lifeforms herein, as science is still working on the taxonomy tree in this area.
Viruses are the most primitive of lifeforms. These organisms are usually too small to be seen by typical microscopes. Viruses are composed of a acid nucleus and some proteins. These organisms need to invade a living cell of a host in order to grow and reproduce. Several well known diseases are caused by viruses including Hepatitis, HIV, Mumps, Influenze, Rabies, and Yellow Fever.
There are several even more primitive virus like creatures that include viroids and prions. (Viroids can cause some plant health issues, and Prions can cause the mad cow disease.)
