Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Virus RNA or DNA 

Name: Sneha
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: Outside U.S.
Country: India
Date: Summer 2012
Question:
Why is it so that viruses contain either RNA or DNA? Why they don't contain both?


Replies:
The simpler a virus is, the more copies can be replicated rapidly. Thus, viruses that have a minimum amount of genes are favored. If a virus can replicate with just one or the other (RNA or DNA), it can have an advantage in reproduction over more complicated viruses. Also, if the virus were to require both types of genes, the odds of something going wrong increases -- and could make the virus unable to replicate.

Hope this helps, Burr


Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 223
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: November 2011
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory