Question

1. Explain five (5) similarities between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and eukaryotic cells. The similarities could be either structure or their function

2. Explain five (5) differences between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and eukaryotic cells. The differences could be either structure or their function

Answer 1

5 Similiraties between SARS-COV-2 virus and Eukaryotic cells are:

a.Lipid Envelope=Both the eukaroytic cells and Sars-Cov-2 has a lipid bilayer cover.

b.Nucleic Acid=Both has nucleic acid encoding genetic information.

c.Proteins-Both have proteins within them

d.Membrane-Both have proteins embedded within the lipid layer.

e.Protein nucleic acid interaction-SarsCov2 has nucleocapsid that protects the genome similar to eukaryotic histone that helps eukaryotic DNA to fold and protects it.

5 difference between SARS-Cov2 and eukaryotic cells:

a.Nucleic acid=Eukaryotic cells have DNA as for storage of genetic information adn RNA as a messenger, while the virus has only ssRNA.

b.Reproduction:The eukaryotic cells do not need any host to replicate while Sars Cov 2 needs a host cell for replication.

c.Organelles: Eukaryotic cells have division of space and labour, thereby they have organelles like golgi bodies, ER etc while viruses are not compartmentalised

d.Size=Size of Sars cov 2 is 50-100 nm in diameter while that of eukaryotic cell is 10-100 um in diameter.

e.Growth and metabolism: Viruses cannot grow and have no metabolism, ekaryotic cells can grow and have a proper metabolic function.They can aggregate to form higher order structures like tissues, organs etc.