FREE ESSAY ON VIRUS INVADERS

VIRUS INVADERS

Katie Turner
Technical Writing
Period 7
Virus Invaders, written by Alan E. Nourse, M.D., explores different viruses and our
body's defenses against them. This book traces the history of the discovery of viruses,
and discusses the difficulty of identifying them, major diseases caused by viruses, the
present state of virology, and the prognosis for the treatment.
This book is an up-date examination of the structure and function of viruses that covers
how they invade the body and what they do once they have entered. Common and uncommon
diseases (chicken pox, hepatitis, mononucleosis, herpes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
encephalitis, AIDS) are discussed in depth.
Viruses are so mysterious and their behaviors are so complex that it is almost as
difficult to describe them to the nonscientist as it is to study them in the laboratory.
Nourse does an awesome job of writing in laypersons' terms without making the reader feel
like a child. The most fascinating chapter describes viruses as the not-quite-living
enemy. 
The photographs of laboratories look dull and fuzzy in the book and the black-and-white
illustrations are not that great for representing magnified specimens. However, Nourse
does a good job in explaining this information. 
Nourse describes the discovery of viruses and their nature, and discusses the variety of
viral diseases, vaccines and immunity, and recent research. He presents a wide scope of
information; detailed, complex explanations about such topics as DNA and RNA; and focuses
on AIDS and HIV. Likewise, hepatitis A, B, and C are dealt with separately. An excellent
double-page chart details in outline form the viruses, diseases caused, organs attacked,
symptoms, usual outcomes, and possibilities of an available vaccine. 
Analogies and action-packed adjectives and nouns will keep young readers actively
involved in unraveling the mysteries of these 'tiny tyrants.' . . . Current areas of
viral research are presented, encouraging a continued interesting this subject. Only a
couple of minor flaws are seen in the beauty of this excellent presentation. The book is
recommended highly, both for general knowledge and as material for the classroom.
Bibliography
Whats up man???