A mixture of viruses, bacteria & mycoplasma are boiled in a test t...
A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.
View all questions of this test
A mixture of viruses, bacteria & mycoplasma are boiled in a test t...
Survival of Viruses
- Viruses are known to be highly resistant to extreme conditions such as high temperatures.
- When boiled at 100°C, most viruses are able to survive due to their unique structure and composition.
- Unlike bacteria and mycoplasma, viruses do not have a cellular structure that can be easily destroyed by heat.
- The protein coat of viruses can withstand high temperatures, allowing them to remain viable even after boiling.
Survival of Bacteria and Mycoplasma
- Bacteria and mycoplasma, being cellular organisms, are more susceptible to heat treatment.
- Boiling at 100°C can denature the proteins and disrupt the cellular membranes of bacteria and mycoplasma, leading to their death.
- Unlike viruses, bacteria and mycoplasma do not have the same level of resistance to extreme temperatures.
Conclusion
- In the scenario described, where a mixture of viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma are boiled at 100°C, only the viruses are likely to survive.
- Bacteria and mycoplasma would be killed off due to the high temperature, while viruses would remain intact due to their unique structure and resistance to heat.
- This highlights the different capabilities of these microorganisms to withstand extreme conditions, with viruses being the most resilient in this case.