Introduction
Both bacteria and viruses are germs. They are very tiny microbes/organisms/agents capable of causing diseases in human beings, animals as well as plants.
Bacteria
Virus
Are they living are not?
Viruses are not living organisms, bacteria are. Viruses only grow and reproduce inside of the host cells they infect. When found outside of these living cells, viruses are dormant. Their “life” therefore requires the hijacking of the biochemical activities of a living cell. Bacteria, on the other hand, are living organisms that consist of a single cell that can generate energy, make its own food, move, and reproduce (typically by binary fission). This allows bacteria to live in many places—soil, water, plants, and the human body—and serve many purposes. They serve many vital roles in nature by decomposing organic matter (as in composting), aiding in digestion, and by converting nitrogen, through nitrogen fixation, to chemicals usable by plants. Bacteria even know how to work as a team through something called quorum sensing. Quorum-sensing allows individual bacteria within colonies to coordinate and carry out colony-wide functions such as: sporulation, bioluminescence, virulence, conjugation, competence and biofilm formation.
You probably already know that germs can be transmitted in the form of a virus, such as the influenza virus which we commonly call the Flu. They can also be transmitted in the form of bacteria, such as E. coli which is commonly spread by poor hygiene (not washing your hands!)
This WebQuest aims to explore the world of bacteria and viruses and allow you to investigate this fascinating world of invisible germs! By the end you should have a thorough understanding of the difference between bacteria and virus.
Task
A worksheet is provided to help students to understand what is the difference between bacteria and viruses. After doing the process the student will be able to answer the question below as a group of two or three. Then I will go over the questions at the next class period if we run out of time today.
Viruses / Bacteria Worksheet
What is this structure?
- Identify parts A-F A.
B C.
D.
E.
F.
- Name the two kingdoms of bacteria. List one way these groups differ from each other.
- Describe two roles bacteria have in the environment.
- What are three foods that have been made using bacteria?
- Following a flood, people are often advised to boil their drinking water. Explain why this is necessary.
- Describe two ways of killing bacteria.
- How are bacteria classified?
- What are the three main shapes of bacteria?
What is this structure to your right?
- What type of organism does this virus infect?
- Label parts A-D
|
Virus life cycle A – G |
- Which letter indicates the host cell being lysed (destroyed)?
- Which letter above represents the stage at which a host cell begins producing new bacteriaphages?
- Which letter indicates the stage at which the bacteriaphage injects its DNA into the host cell?
- Looking at the above diagram which viral life cycle (lysogenic or lytic) is actively using and then lysing (destroying) body cells to make more viruses?
Process
Explore the following website. They should contain information about bacteria and virus. This is not a copy and paste assignment. It is to explore the provided website to answer the question in the task section. I will provide a physical sheet to follow.
Bacteria: http://www.hrmvideo.com/catalog/exploring-bacteria, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24494-bacteria, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24861-virus
Virus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHp6iYDi9ko (Watch video), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24861-virus, https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=ameba+sisters+virus+and+bacteria&qs=n&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=ameba+sisters+virus+and+bacteria&sc=0-32&sk=&cvid=C45A66D1EBAD47669BC216ACC96D8249&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=211F6761B3D168DA3C9672FAB25A696B&jsoncbid=1&ajaxsydconv=1&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dameba%2520sisters%2520virus%2520and%2520bacteria%26qs%3dn%26form%3dQBRE%26sp%3d-1%26lq%3d0%26pq%3dameba%2520sisters%2520virus%2520and%2520bacteria%26sc%3d0-32%26sk%3d%26cvid%3dC45A66D1EBAD47669BC216ACC96D8249%26ghsh%3d0%26ghacc%3d0%26ghpl%3d%26ajaxnorecss%3d1%26sid%3d211F6761B3D168DA3C9672FAB25A696B%26format%3dsnrjson%26jsoncbid%3d1%26ajaxsydconv%3d1&mmscn=vwrc&mid=639C2D3EE5B1E8B16ACA639C2D3EE5B1E8B16ACA&FORM=WRVORC&ntb=1&msockid=30fa664df15411efbd738ec2adcedc52
Evaluation
All sheets will be turned in to be graded as a daily grade and each member name should be on the handout assignment. Your dept of thoughts on the issues, clarity and creativity will be considered. Once your finish the assignment please turn it in for a grade. All members must participate on the assignment. I will be walking around observing each group and answering any questions or concerns.
Conclusion
Student will know the difference between bacteria and virus.
BIO.1A Students will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of life and biological organization.
BIO.1A.1 Develop criteria to differentiate between living and non-living things
BIO.1A.4 Use evidence from current scientific literature to support whether a virus is living or non-living.