Question

A coordination of events is characteristic of the reproductive cycle of a human female and the replicative cycle of an enveloped RNA virus (see Figure 19.7). What is the nature of the coordination in each of these cycles?

Short answer

The replicative cycle of viruses co-ordinately regulates the duplication of viral chromosomes and the expression of proteins required for producing viral capsids. In human females, the reproductive cycle involves the development of uterine walls along with egg cell maturation.

Step-by-step solution

Viruses

In biological science, the focus remains on understanding life forms, but the study of viruses is an exceptional case.Viruses can be defined as non-living microscopic entity which has the potential to infect every living organism.

These entities can reproduce and replicate only within a living host, and so their multiplication occurs after infection.

Human reproduction

Reproduction in the case of human beings occurs via the sexual method, and the event of fertilization along with embryonic development takes place within the female’s body. The body of females produces gamete cells in a cyclic process termed the menstrual reproductive cycle.

Viral replicative cycle and human reproductive cycle

The viral replicative cycle refers to the coordinated events that ensure duplication of the virus’ genomic material within the host cell and the production of all the proteins and phospholipids required to form the virus’ capsid layer.

In human females, the reproductive cycle also exhibits coordinated events. This cycle regulates the maturation of follicle cells and the production of mature egg cells and the development of the innermost wall of the uterus (endometrium) so that embryonic development is facilitated.