Increasing Levels of Environmental Mutagens: Potential for Affecting Viral Evolution and Pathogenicity: A Speculative Review

摘要

The article examines available data concerning the ways in which information contained in viral genomes is altered. Mechanisms of damage and repair of nucleic acids are discussed. Information available on the rates of evolution of various viruses is summarized. Contents are as follows: Introduction; Frequency of Viruses in Nature; Replication of Viral Nucleic Acid; DNA Damaging Agents and Mutation; Environmental DNA Damaging Agents; The Repair of DNA Damage; Recombination; Transposition; Rates of Evolution of Viruses; Conclusions.