Viral genome

A viral genome is the complete set of genetic material—either DNA or RNA—that contains all the instructions a virus needs to replicate and produce new virus particles. Unlike living organisms, viruses are not cells and rely on host cells to reproduce. The viral genome encodes the information necessary to hijack the host's machinery, allowing the virus to multiply and spread. Its size and complexity vary among different viruses, and understanding it is key to developing treatments and vaccines.