Question

Suppose that one virus infects one cell, and 300 minutes later 100 cells are dead (experienced lysis) due to viruses. Which of the following is most likely to describe when lysis occurred for those 100 cells? Lysis occurred for zero cells in the first 150 minutes and for all 100 cells in the last 150 minutes. Lysis occurred for 30 cells in the first 150 minutes and for 70 cells in the last 150 minutes. Lysis occurred for 50 cells in the first 150 minutes and for 50 cells in the last 150 minutes. Lysis occurred for 70 cells in the first 150 minutes and for 30 cells in the last 150 minutes.

Answer 1

Lysis occurred for 30 cells in the first 150 minutes and for 70 cells in the last 150 minutes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the first 150 minutes, viruses cause fewer cells to lyse, because as soon as they are in the body, viruses have to overcome the action of the immune system and to be able to infect the cell and trigger its infection until lysis occurs. However, after that time, viruses can infect cells much faster and can infect more cells at the same time. In addition, after lysis of the first cells, the number of viral particles becomes larger and can infect a larger number of cells.

For this reason, we can state that in relation to the above question, lysis occurred by 30 cells in the first 150 minutes and by 70 cells in the last 150 minutes.

Answer 2

The most likely answer is the second one (B):
A: not the most likely answer, because if zero cells are dead in 150min, it means that the virus cycle lasts more than 150min and by the way, it cannot do another cycle at 300min
C and D: False because the dead cell's rate infected by viruses are exponential (it means the dead cell's rate grow in time).

So, by following this principle, the most accurate answer is B