Talk:Virus

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  • This article needs a full copy-edit by experienced editors. GrahamColm 13:35, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
  • Y Done--GrahamColmTalk 18:09, 26 November 2007 (UTC)
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[edit] Definition

There appears to be no strict definition given for viruses. "unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell" is not a sufficient definition as it includes some bacteria (eg. Chlamidophyla spp) and this made me wonder what the real definition is. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.102.139.36 (talk) 18:05, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

  • How about this: A virus is an obligate, intracellular parasite that lacks organelles and has a genome made from either RNA or DNA but not both. Outside the host cell it is metabolically inactive and consists of a protein shell encasing a nucleoprotein core and some species have a lipid envelope. A strict definition would have to be longer. HIV for example exists in two completely different forms; as an RNA virus which fits the definition above, but also as pro-viral DNA integrated into the host cell's genome. GrahamColmTalk 09:57, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Article for each group of virus

It might be good to have a separated article for each group of viruses (dsDNA, ssDNA, dsRNA, ...) with a taxobox each. This is done in eukarya, bacteria, archaea, and so on, where each phylum, classis, etc, has its own article. 91.117.48.173 (talk) 20:12, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Error in Baltimore Classification image?

Positive single stranded RNA viruses are "ready to go" because they are identical to mRNA.

Negative sense single stranded RNA viruses need to be converted to positive sense single stranded RNA viruses before replication can continue. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.131.95.48 (talk) 23:43, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

  • Yes but, +plus RNA virus genomes can act as mRNA but there is not enough for efficient reproduction. The primary role of the virion genome-derived mRNA is to code for an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that copies the genomic RNA into a negative sense replicative intermediary, from which lots of mRNA is made. So the diagram is correct since it shows the intermediate step. GrahamColmTalk 09:47, 8 June 2008 (UTC)