DNA Virus

A DNA virus is a type of virus that has DNA as genetic material. DNA viruses usually contain double-stranded DNA and use DNA-dependent DNA polymerase to replicate. In contrast to RNA viruses, which have smaller genomes, DNA viruses can encode hundreds of viral proteins once inside the host. Another difference between DNA and RNA viruses is that DNA viruses undertake their replication within the infected cell's nucleus, whereas RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Examples of DNA viruses include the herpesviruses (which cause chickenpox, shingles, and oral and genital herpes), the smallpox viruses, adenoviruses (which cause common colds), and papillomaviruses (such as HPV).