Abstract
The development of virology has resulted from a variety of different influences of which genetics holds a position of prime importance. Genetic variants (mutants) provide the basic stock in trade for genetic analysis as well as being the source of variation through which evolution occurs. By examination of the defects arising from infection of cells by mutant virus it is possible to identify virus-coded functions and so build up a comprehensive picture of the processes involved in virus replication. Analysis of the genetic interactions which occur between mutant viruses provides information about the structure of virus genomes, the gene composition and the mechanism by which genes are arranged into new combinations.
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© 1980 K.M. Smith and D.A. Ritchie
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Smith, K.M. (1980). Virus genetics. In: Introduction to Virology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5876-0_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5876-0_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-21970-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5876-0
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