Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

295
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...
295
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

270
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
270
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

36.0K
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...
36.0K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

13.2K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
13.2K
Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

68.3K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
68.3K
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

121.7K
Overview
121.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

On the brink of emergence: an evolutionary approach to Influenza A virus H5N1 isolated from humans.

Virus research·2026
Same author

Evolution of SL-RNA Genes and Their Splicing Targets in Parasitic Flatworms.

Molecular biology and evolution·2025
Same author

Phylogenetic and Mutation Analysis of Hemagglutinin Gene from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5 Clade 2.3.4.4b in South America.

Viruses·2025
Same author

Impact of the Zinc Antiviral Protein on the Genomic Composition of RNA Viruses Infecting Vertebrates.

Molecular biology and evolution·2025
Same author

Noninvasive Surveillance and Evolutionary Insight into Siadenovirus among Antarctic Penguins.

Transboundary and emerging diseases·2025
Same author

Same data, different analysts: variation in effect sizes due to analytical decisions in ecology and evolutionary biology.

BMC biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 28, 2025

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

29.8K

Nucleotide Composition and Codon Usage Across Viruses and Their Respective Hosts.

Diego Simón1,2,3, Juan Cristina2, Héctor Musto1

  • 1Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|July 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Viral genomes exhibit diverse GC content, influencing genetic features. This study reveals phages share base composition with hosts, unlike eukaryotic viruses, offering insights into viral evolution.

Keywords:
GC-contentbase compositioncodon usagecompositional correlationsviral diversity

More Related Videos

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
08:56

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes

Published on: July 27, 2018

11.2K
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

21.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 28, 2025

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

29.8K
Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes
08:56

Combining Analysis of DNA in a Crude Virion Extraction with the Analysis of RNA from Infected Leaves to Discover New Virus Genomes

Published on: July 27, 2018

11.2K
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

21.6K

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Genome nucleotide composition, specifically GC content, influences various genomic features in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota.
  • While extensively studied in cellular life, comprehensive analyses of viral genome composition and its evolutionary drivers are lacking.
  • Viruses possess diverse genetic material (DNA/RNA, single/double-stranded), necessitating a distinct examination of their compositional properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively analyze the compositional properties of approximately 10,000 viral species.
  • To investigate the correlations between viral and host nucleotide frequencies and codon usage.
  • To understand the evolutionary implications of GC content variation across different viral types and their hosts.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of base composition across diverse viral species, categorized by the Baltimore classification.
  • Examination of correlations between non-coding regions and codon positions.
  • Comparative analysis of nucleotide frequencies and codon usage between viruses and their respective hosts.

Main Results:

  • Viral base composition, particularly GC content, varies significantly across species.
  • Bacteriophages (viruses infecting bacteria) exhibit strong correlations in base composition with their bacterial hosts.
  • Eukaryotic viruses generally show weak or no correlation in base composition with their eukaryotic hosts, with exceptions in fungi and protists.

Conclusions:

  • The strong correlation between phages and their hosts suggests co-evolutionary forces shaping nucleotide composition.
  • The divergence in composition between eukaryotic viruses and their hosts indicates different evolutionary pressures or mechanisms.
  • Understanding these compositional patterns is crucial for deciphering viral evolution and host-virus interactions.