20292 Virology
Credits: 3 intermediate credits in Life Sciences
Prerequisites: none
Required: Cell Structure and Function (single-semester format or year-long format), Genetics,1 as well as the ability to read scientific texts in English
Recommended: Introduction to Microbiology
Authors: Miriam Souroujon, Alexander Cohen, Joel Klemes, Bracha Kimchi, Naamit Sher. The materials include a frequently updated collection of scientific articles.
Virology (the study of viruses) is one of the important areas in the Life Sciences. Viruses cause infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants and their involvement in malignant diseases has been shown in recent years. Moreover, viruses play a central role in the revolutionary breakthroughs in molecular biology and genetic engineering. The course provides students with basic knowledge and an overall perspective of the world of viruses: characteristics, reproduction within a host cell, and the relationships between viruses and their host organisms. The course includes mandatory laboratory sessions.
Topics: Introduction to the world of viruses; Bacterial viruses – bacteriophages; Life cycles of animal viruses; The effects of animal viruses on host cells; Viral diseases in humans; Plant viruses; Research methods in virology.
1or the previous version of the course, From Mendelism to Genetic Engineering.