title: The nature of genetic variation among viruses.
abstract: Genetic variation among viruses may seem unimportant and academic--related only to pedagogical classification of things--but accurate determination of genetic relationships can have important implications, from characterizing the molecular basis of attenuation of viral vaccines to furthering knowledge about origins of viruses and even of life itself. It can even help to establish priority in the discovery of viruses when properly applied. The purpose of this brief review is to demonstrate how viruses change and what implications these changes can have on the delicate balance between the viral parasite and its host. Examples will be drawn from the hepatitis viruses when possible.
authors.affiliation: Hepatitis Viruses Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*