remember no copy and pasting!
What is a virus? (hint; structure and function)
In general, how does a vaccine work to protect against a viral infection?
Write a summary of what you have learned about the SARS-CoV-2 virus... where did it come from? How does it infect people? What tissues/organs does it infect? How does it make people sick/cause their death?
What does a virus use to attach to a cell that it is going to infect?
Every virus has a rigid shell made of proteins called a ___________ that holds the genetic material and in some viruses, some enzymes.
Why do viruses change over time?
Put the steps/stages of a typical viral life cycle in order
production/copying - viral DNA or RNA hijacks cell machinery to make more copies of the viral DNA or RNA and viral proteins
entry/penetration of virus into host cell
uncovering/release - viral capsid breaks apart & DNA or RNA and enzymes are released into cell
release - new viruses "bud" from cell membrane or the cell bursts to release viruses
assembly - viral DNA or RNA and viral proteins come together to make more virus particles
attachment of virus to host cell


What does herd immunity allow for?
Why is immunizing a certain percentage of a population important for herd immunity?
What happens if the percentage of immune individuals in a population drops below the herd immunity threshold?
Extra Credit - What is special about the COVID-19 vaccines? How are they different than all previous vaccines? How do they work?