[H2 only]

Students should be able to:

(a) Describe the structure and organization of viral, prokaryotic and eukaryotic genome (including DNA/RNA, single- /double-stranded, number of nucleotides, packing of DNA,

linearity/circularity and presence/absence of introns).

(b)   Describe how the genomes of viruses are inherited through outlining the reproductive cycles of:

i. bacteriophages that reproduce via lytic and lysogenic cycles, e.g. lambda phage

ii. enveloped viruses, e.g. influenza

iii. retroviruses, e.g. HIV.

(c) Describe how variation in viral genomes arises, including antigenic shift and antigenic drift.

(d) Explain how viruses, including influenza and HIV, cause diseases in humans through the disruption of host tissue and functions (including HIV and T helper cells, influenza and epithelial cells of the respiratory tract).