In the late 1700s Edward Jenner developed the first vaccine from cowpox, an infectious virus found in cows. How do viruses, like the one responsible for cowpox, cause disease?

Question

In the late 1700s Edward Jenner developed the first vaccine from cowpox, an infectious virus found in cows.  How do viruses, like the one responsible for cowpox, cause disease?

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By sexually reproducing with other viruses in the environment

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By replicating inside the cell and then lysing the cell

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By gaining energy from metabolizing their food

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By competing for water with cells of the infected organism

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct response is: **By replicating inside the cell and then lysing the cell.** Viruses cause disease primarily by entering host cells, replicating their genetic material, and often causing the host cell to burst (lyse), which releases new viral particles to infect additional cells. This process can lead to cell damage and the symptoms of disease.