DNA Viruses (Double Standard)

DNA Viruses Conceptually, the simplest viruses to understand are those with genomes of double stranded DNA (dsDNA). The nucleocapsid of this type of virus enters the cell it proceeds to the nucleus where it mimics the genome of the host cell. Usually, viral genome is replicated using the host cell DNA polymerase and viral genome is transcribed by the host cell RNA polymerase. Resulting transcripts carrying information encoding viral proteins is then transported to the cytoplasm and seen as template by the host cell Ribosomes. Some of these newly synthesized viral proteins are used as the protein capsid around newly replicated viral DNA molecules and these new virions are released from the cell, where they target other host cells and trigger new rounds of infection

Double Standard DNA viruses that exploit the host cell machinery to complete their life cycles can carry small genomes encoding mostly viral structural proteins like those for the capsid. The dependence of these viruses on the host cell replication machinery creates a potentially awkward situation; the enzymes of DNA replication are generally not expressed in quiescent cells.  Most of the cells infected will be in G and therefore inhospitable hosts. Some dsDNA viruses are herpes virus family or the Epstein Barr virus has large genomes that contain greater than sixty genes