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So, how does a virus alter the cells machinery so that rather then working for the cell it becomes a virus factory? Lets start with the DNA -- the instruction manuals -- and work our way into the synthesis of protiens, from amino acids (the building blocks of life).
Inserting the Virus DNA into the Cells DNA
After the viral DNA enters the cell it will then find its way
to the cells DNA and literally insert its DNA into the chain of
the cells DNA thus altering the cells "instruction manual," therefor
telling it to create more viruses rather then working for the
cell!
Creating the Proteins for the new VirusesThe process begins when an mRNA strand is transcribed (an opposite copy) from an DNA template.At the point of attachment to the ribosome, the matching tRNA molecule with its amino acid plugs into a slot (known as an anticodon) momentarily with the codon on the mRNA. The ribosome moves along the mRNA strand so that another tRNA can come into the next slot with an anticodon that matches the codon on the mRNA. As this happens the two amino acids next to each other hook up (form a poylpeptide bond), creating a protein chain. This protien will then be used to create the capsid and other parts of the next generation of viruses.
