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Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

Widely conserved recombination patterns among single-stranded DNA viruses.

P Lefeuvre1, J-M Lett, A Varsani

  • 1CIRAD, UMR 53 PVBMT CIRAD-Université de la Réunion, Pôle de Protection des Plantes, Ligne Paradis, 97410 Saint Pierre, La Réunion, France.

Journal of Virology
|January 1, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Genetic recombination in viruses offers rapid evolution. Natural selection shapes viral genome recombination patterns, favoring breakpoints outside genes, especially structural protein genes, to maintain functional viral proteins.

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Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection
09:25

Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection

Published on: May 24, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection
09:25

Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection

Published on: May 24, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Genetic recombination accelerates viral evolution, providing access to novel sequence space beyond mutation.
  • While individual recombination events are studied, genome-wide patterns and their drivers across virus families remain poorly understood.
  • Hypotheses suggest selection influences recombination patterns to preserve coevolved genetic interactions within viral genomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comparatively analyze recombination breakpoint distributions across diverse single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus families.
  • To investigate the interplay between mechanistic and selective forces shaping genome-wide recombination patterns in viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of recombination breakpoint distributions in the genomes of various ssDNA virus families.
  • Statistical examination of breakpoint locations relative to gene structures, including protein-coding regions.

Main Results:

  • Nonrandom recombination breakpoint distributions were observed in ssDNA virus genomes.
  • Breakpoints were frequently located outside or at the peripheries of genes, with significantly fewer within structural protein genes.
  • Both mechanistic factors and natural selection contribute to observed breakpoint patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Natural selection plays a significant role in determining viral recombination breakpoint distributions.
  • Selection appears to act against the expression of recombinant proteins, favoring breakpoints that avoid disrupting functional gene products.
  • These findings highlight the importance of selection in maintaining viral genome integrity and function during recombination.