This activity exhibits how viruses bind to, and infect specific cells using two methods: a demonstration and paper cut-out models.

Cell membranes contain protein receptors; virus structure; when a virus binds to a host cell, it injects its DNA or RNA into the host cell; gene therapy involves adding a normally functioning gene to cells to replace the function of a "faulty" gene.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Class Time: 5 minutes (demonstration); 10 minutes(activity)

How Do Viruses Recognize a Target Cell? Print-and-Go

Supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) [No. 1 R25 RR16291-01] from the National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The contents provided here are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NCRR or NIH.