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. 2008:91–98. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8761-5_7

The Origin and Evolution of Viruses

Vadim I Agol 4,5
Editors: Arne T Skjeltorp1,2, Alexander V Belushkin3
PMCID: PMC7121209

Abstract

The lecture covers three main topics: (i) Viruses: properties, place in the living world, and possible origin; (ii) Molecular basis of viral variability and evolution; and (iii) Evolution of viral pathogenicity and emerging viral infections.

Keywords: Selfish genetic elements, replication, transcription, mutation, recombination, plasmids, pathogenicity, fibroma/myxoma virus, influenza virus, SARS-coronavirus, human immunodeficiency virus

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