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Build a virus

10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 29 March

Times shown are in GMT (UTC +0) up to the 26th March. For events on or after 27th March times are in BST (UTC +1).

Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1QP

Viruses are very small. They are made up of an outer shell of protein that carries the virus’s DNA or RNA – the genetic code containing the instructions for making new copies of the virus. Some viruses have an extra layer around their protein shell, but that’s about it.

Despite being so simple, many different types of viruses can cause diseases, such as the common cold, chickenpox, COVID-19 and AIDS.

In the Department of Pathology’s virology laboratory, we are trying to answer these questions about viruses:

• How can virus RNA molecules multitask?

• How is virus RNA packaged into virion particles?

• Why do viruses infect particular hosts and tissues?

We will provide some hands-on activities as well as showing you how our researchers address these questions in the lab. These will include building virus models from paper and other materials so that you can learn how different viruses acquire their shapes and form spikes.

No booking is required. We look forward to seeing you and all the family!

#Family Weekend

Booking email address: la334@cam.ac.uk

Booking/Registration is: RECOMMENDED

Drop-in, no booking required.

Additional Information

Age: Young Adults 12 – 18, Children under 12, Adults, All Ages
Format: Family Weekend
Timing: In person
Cost: Free
Theme: Health
Accessibility: Accessible toilet, Full access

Download the PDF programme

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Image copyright: Valeria Lulla

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