Are Viruss Alive Essay

Are Viruss Alive Essay Are Viruss Alive? Essay Kaylee Drew December 3, 2013 A Block From the various facts including the reproduction and growth status of the organisms and proven statistics I believe that viruses are indeed alive. Science proves that the bacteria in viruses have the same characteristics that a living organism does. Viruses are the most efficient entities on this planet to circulate and breed genetic material. They can multiply in mass numbers within minutes, and cause destruction throughout the world. Viruses carry genes, DNA, RNA and have protein material. These are some basic elements that living organisms like virus’s carry. In addition one of the last things that make a virus a living structure is its ability to infect any eukaryotic celled species such as humans or animals. Only a living thing can infect others and carry contagious illnesses. Therefore the given physiognomies proves the life of a virus. A virus can reproduce in hundreds within hours. For a virus to multiply it goes through a never ending cycle. First the virus attaches to the cell becoming one with the host,the virus than injects its DNA into a cell, the viruses DNA uses the cells organelles to grow and to destroy the cell, lastly the virus break out the dead cell. For the virus to multiply it must first attack itself to a host cell. The main entity is that the virus lives, breeds, and feeds off of its host. They depend on the host cell to reproduce as it says in the article â€Å"Introduction to the viruses† by C. Emilliani, it says that when a virus comes into contact with a host that it inserts it genetic material into giving it the ability to spread and reproduce. Reproduction of a virus can be bad news. It takes days or hours for a virus to spread through contact. Many virus’s have wiped out and killed thousands of people; such as â€Å"Bubonic Plague† and â€Å"Spanish Flu†. Some virus’s such as these, have destroyed families and left victims dead and in suffering. Thankfully, modern science ha s allowed us to prevent and treat many serious cases of virus’s, so many lives can be saved. For an organism to be considered â€Å"living† it must carry genetic material such as DNA/RNA virus do carry DNA and RNA. Though some material from a virus is engineered most is natural. Also, virus’s hold organelles such as mitochondria, ribosomes, DNA, and proteins. These are the elements that prove that viruses are alive, even though many eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells carry same organelles. They help a cell function and carry out its basic needs for survival. Although some might believe that viruses are complex biochemical mechanisms, others believe they are simple organisms from nature. Viruses go through different phases of life to benefit their life span, and reproduction quantity. Causing them to grow, change, adapt, and expand to benefit themselves.But virus’s make it to their main goal to infect a host. With all the evidence and organelles a virus b etrays, it surely is a flourishing entity. The main purpose in a virus’s life is to infect and grow in a host. Viruses are known for their negative, fatal, and disapproving effect they have on humans and animals. Viruses can only contaminate eukaryotic celled species or

Why More People Drown in Fresh Water Than Salt Water

Why More People Drown in Fresh Water Than Salt Water Drowning in fresh water is different from drowning in salt water. For one, more people drown in fresh water than salt water. Around 90% of drownings occur in freshwater, including swimming pools, bathtubs, and rivers. This is partly because of the chemistry of the water and how it affects osmosis. Drowning in Salt Water Drowning involves suffocating while in water. You dont even need to breathe in the water for this occur, but if you do inhale salt water, the high salt concentration will prevent the water from crossing into your lung tissue. When people drown in salt water, its usually because they cant get oxygen or expel carbon dioxide. Breathing in salt water creates a physical barrier between the air and your lungs. A person who has inhaled salt water will not be able to breathe again until the salt water is removed. However, that does not mean there wont be lingering effects. Salt water is hypertonic to the ion concentration in lung cells, so if you swallow it the water from your bloodstream will enter your lungs to compensate for the concentration difference. This will cause your blood to thicken, putting a strain on your circulatory system. Extreme stress on your heart can lead to cardiac arrest within eight to 10 minutes. The good news is that its relatively easy to rehydrate your blood by drinking water, so if you survive the initial experience, you are well on the road to recovery. Drowning in Fresh Water Surprisingly, you can die from breathing in fresh water even hours after you have avoided drowning in it. This is because fresh water is more diluted with respect to ions than the fluid inside your lung cells. Fresh water doesnt cross into your skin cells because keratin essentially waterproofs them, but water will rush into unprotected lung cells to try to equalize the concentration gradient across the cell membranes. This can cause massive tissue damage, so even if the water is removed from your lungs there is still a chance you might not recover. Heres what happens: Fresh water is hypotonic compared to lung tissue. When water enters the cells, it causes them to swell. Some of the lung cells may burst. Because capillaries in your lungs are exposed to the fresh water, water enters the bloodstream, diluting your blood. This causes blood cells to burst (hemolysis). Elevated plasma K (potassium ions) and depressed Na (sodium ion) levels may disrupt the hearts electrical activity heart, causing ventricular fibrillation. Cardiac arrest from the ion imbalance may occur in as little as two to three minutes. Even if you survive the first few minutes underwater, acute renal failure may occur from the burst blood cells in your kidneys. If you drown in cold fresh water, the temperature change as the water enters your bloodstream may even cool your heart enough to cause cardiac arrest from hypothermia. On the other hand, in salt water, the cold water does not enter your bloodstream, so the effects of temperature are mainly limited to heat loss across your skin.