Virus Explorer

This interactive module explores the diversity of viruses based on structure, genome type, host range, transmission mechanism, replication cycles, and vaccine availability.

The Click & Learn incorporates engaging 3D models of 10 different viruses — coronavirus, rabies, influenza A, HIV, Ebola, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), adenovirus, T7, papillomavirus, and Zika — that students can click on to rotate, view from different angles, and see in cross section. Students can also explore detailed diagrams of the viruses’ replication cycles.  In the process, students will learn about the criteria that scientists use to classify viruses, the characteristics of different viruses, and the global prevalence of viral infections. The Click & Learn includes an illustration of the relative sizes of the 10 viruses, which provides an opportunity to discuss scale and units.

The accompanying worksheet guides students’ exploration.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.