A student is learning about infections that can occur in the human body. Infections could be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungus. The student learns about two infections, influenza and ringworm, and creates a table that describes the infections.
Which of the following statements correctly describes Influenza, an infection caused by a virus?
a
Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a living infectious agent that invades a host cell.
b
Influenza is caused by a bacterium because it is a non-living infectious and spreads by spores.
c
Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a non-living infectious agent.
d
Influenza is caused by a fungus, because it is a DNA genome.
a
Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a living infectious agent that invades a host cell.
The correct statement is:
a) Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a living infectious agent that invades a host cell.
The correct statement is:
a) Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a living infectious agent that invades a host cell.
To determine the correct answer, it is important to understand the characteristics of Influenza and how it is caused.
To begin, Influenza is a respiratory infection that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is caused by the Influenza virus. Viruses are considered living infectious agents because they can replicate and carry out biological processes only when they invade host cells and use the host's machinery for replication. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own and are reliant on host cells to multiply.
Bacteria, on the other hand, are single-celled microorganisms that can live independently and reproduce through cell division. They are not considered non-living infectious agents.
Fungi are a separate group of microorganisms, which includes organisms such as mushrooms and molds. While some fungi can cause infections, Influenza is not caused by a fungus.
Therefore, the correct answer is a) Influenza is caused by a virus because it is a living infectious agent that invades a host cell.