Wanted: “Dead” or Alive

Viruses vs. Bacteria

De’Shayla Chappell, Adrinece Beard, Angela Player, Gerald D. GriffinDepartment of Biology, Tuskegee University

09/27/2014

What are viruses? What are bacteria?

• Take 2 minutes to work in your groups to answer these questions

– 1. What do viruses and bacteria have in common?

– 2. What’s different about bacteria and viruses?

– 3. Do you think there are “living” bacteria and viruses in your body right now?

Wanted: Living things grow

Yogurt: Lactobacillus Acidophilus

Colds, diaherra: Adenovirus

Bacteria Virus

Wanted: Living things reproduce

Bacteria Virus

Wanted: Living things change over time

Bacteria Virus

Wanted: Living things have cells

Bacteria Virus

Summary• Based on the definition we use, viruses could be alive

or not (“dead”)

• With all the definitions, bacteria are considered alive

• Not all bacteria are bad—we need some to have healthy lives

• Viral DNA in our cells may be important in developing a fertilized egg into an active, living fetus (baby in the mother’s womb)

Thanks!• Drs. Bradford and Reeves

• All the MSP Scholars

• Dr. Jeelani, Mrs. Banks, Mrs. Spence

• All the teachers, students, and staff working with the Math Science Partnership