Viruses

Virus is a infectious agent found in all life forms, humans, animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Viruses consist of genetic material, either deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid or as most people know them as DNA and RNA. They are surrounded by a protective coating of protein, called a capsid, with or without an outer lipid envelope. Viruses are between 20 and 100 times smaller than bacteria. Viruses are not considered free-living, since they cannot reproduce outside of …

…cted cell populations, such as tumor cells. The use of genetically engineered viruses for medical intervention is a relatively new field, and none of these therapies is widely available. However, this is a fast-growing area of research, and many clinical trials are now in progress. The use of genetically engineered viruses extends beyond the medical field. Recombinant insect viruses have agricultural applications and are currently being tested in field trials for their effectiveness as pesticides.