Most recent empirical knowledge on viruses and their role in evolution and environment
Assembles most leading experts in their field
Changes biology paradigm from cell first to virus first perspective
A renaissance of virus research is taking centre stage in biology. Empirical data from the last decade indicate the important roles of viruses, both in the evolution of all life and as symbionts or co-evolutionary partners of host organisms. There is increasing evidence that all cellular life is colonized by exogenous and/or endogenous viruses in a non-lytic but persistent lifestyle. Viruses and viral parts form the most numerous genetic matter on this planet.
Viruses have long been considered as disease causing pathogens with often epidemic consequences and major enemies of living organisms. Viruses are now considered to play major roles in the evolution of life. Because they have genes that are not found in any cellular organism they seem to be remnants of early stages of life on earth. Besides their disease causing features and actions as genetic parasites viruses have lifestyles that are clearly symbiotic and even symbiogenetic. Increasing empirical data suggest that some viruses such as endogenous retroviruses and non-retroviral RNA viruses and even DNA viruses prefer cellular genomes as habitat. They determine genetic host (group) identity and genetic host features. Viruses and virus-related modules such as mobile genetic elements and other repeat sequences identified in intronic regions of host genomes play important roles in gene regulation and genetic content (re)arrangement. This book exemplifies some astonishing key features of viruses acting as essential agents of life.
Content Level » Professional/practitioner
Keywords » persistence of viruses - viral infection driven evolution of cellular life - virus abundance - virus life styles - virus parts as regulation models of cellular genes
發表於2024-11-17
Viruses: Essential Agents of Life 2024 pdf epub mobi 電子書 下載
圖書標籤: 病毒 生命科學 專著
Viruses: Essential Agents of Life 2024 pdf epub mobi 電子書 下載