Definition
noun
A virus containing DNA as its genetic material and using a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase during replication.
Supplement
The DNA of these viruses may either be double stranded (dsDNA) or single-stranded (ssDNA). DNA viruses belong to either Class I (dsDNA viruses) or Class II (ssDNA viruses) of the Baltimore classification system for viruses.
Most of these viruses must enter the host nucleus before they can replicate because they need the host cell‘s DNA polymerases when replicating their viral genome.
Compare: RNA virus, dsDNA-RT virus.
Related terms:
- dsDNA virus
- ssDNA virus
