Clonality and intracellular polyploidy in virus evolution and pathogenesis.

Celia Perales1, Elena Moreno2, Esteban Domingo3

  • 1Centro de Biologia Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Barcelona, Spain; and Liver Unit, Internal Medicine, Laboratory of Malalties Hepàtiques, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca-Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.

Summary

Viruses primarily evolve clonally, as genetic recombination, though frequent, rarely creates new traits essential for replication or survival. Evolutionarily significant recombination events are rare but can lead to new pathogens or adaptations.

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