title: The origins and ongoing evolution of viruses.
abstract: Genome analyses of double strand DNA tailed bacteriophages argue that they evolve by recombinational reassortment of genes and by the acquisition of novel genes as simple genetic elements termed morons. These processes suggest a model for early virus evolution, wherein viruses can be regarded less as having derived from cells and more as being partners in their mutual co-evolution.
authors: Pittsburgh Bacteriophage Institute, PA 15260, USA. rhx@pitt.edu
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Hendrix
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Lawrence
authors: G F
authors: GF
authors: Hatfull
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Casjens
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins