Virus Hunter Webquest

Imagine a world where diseases were blamed on "bad air" or "curses," and scientists had no idea why healthy people suddenly became ill. Was it demons, punishment, the four humors, miasma, spontaneous generation, or germs? In this WebQuest, you will explore the history, scientists involved, discoveries, and the impact of viruses on medicine and society.

Your mission is to become a "virus hunter" in the world of virology, piecing together the story of how humanity discovered viruses and unlocked their secrets and the effects of these discoveries on medicine and public health.

You will work in teams to research and create a presentation that answers the following questions:

1. Discuss the prevailing theories about disease causation and transmission before viruses were discovered?

2. Who were the scientists involved in the discovery of viruses, and what were their contributions?

3. How was the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus important to the field of virology?

4. What scientific tools and techniques were critical in identifying the existence of viruses?

5. How has our understanding of viruses influenced modern medicine and public health? Include information on CRISPR in your response.

Your presentation can be in the form of:

• A Google Slideshow

• A made for TV documentary 

• A timeline with illustrations

• A television news interview or story

• An in-depth article for a newspaper or science related magazine

1. Formation of Groups - the teacher will divide you into teams of 3-4 students. Each member will have a specific role. If your group is only 3 students, all group members must participate in the presentation.
   
    

   • Historian: Focuses on the timeline and major discoveries.

   • Biologist: Explores the scientific methods used.

   • Analyst: Examines the modern implications of viral discoveries.

   • Presenter: Ensures the findings are clear and engaging, presents material to the audience taking into account who the audience is. Makes the presentation something the audience wants to attend to.  No sleeping.

2. Research: Use the provided resources below to conduct online searches to gather information. You may use additional resources, but you must ask your teacher if they are acceptable for this assignment.

• The History of Virology

• Another History of Virology

• The Nobel Prize website for virology-related awards

• National Institute of Health Tobacco Mosaic Virus 

• Public Health

• Textbook - Microbiology: An Introduction, 14th Edition, Tortora, Case, Bair III, Weber, Funke, Copyright 2023 (found in classroom)

• Emerging Infectious Disease Journal

3. Create: Compile your findings into a cohesive presentation. Regardless of which style of presentation your group chooses, be sure to:
   
    

   • Verify all information for accuracy

   • Include visuals (images, graphs, charts, videos).

   • Ensure your project is clear, concise, and visually appealing.

   • Check your product for spelling and grammar!

   • Cite all sources in APA format.

Present: Share your work with the class. You’ll have 5-10 minutes to present. Prepare to answer questions from your peers and instructor.

Your project will be graded on the following criteria:

• Accuracy (40 points): Information is accurate (20), thorough (10), and well-researched (10).

• Presentation (20 points): Presentation is visually engaging (10) and creatively delivered (10).

• Presenter (20 points): Clear (5), confident (5), pleasant to the ears (5), and engaging delivery (5).

• Team Member Collaboration (30/40 points): Team members contributed equally and effectively (10 points each).

• Citations (10 points): Properly formatted and complete bibliography.

Congratulations on completing your journey into the discovery of viruses! You’ve explored the groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for virology and shaped modern science. Reflect on how far we’ve come—from mysterious illnesses to vaccines and antiviral drugs—and consider the challenges we still face in fighting viral diseases.

As a class, discuss: 

1. What do you think the future holds for virology? 

2. Could we ever eliminate some viruses entirely? 

3. What ethical concerns arise with technologies like CRISPR in dealing with viruses?

Created by Valerie K. Lahteine

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