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Definition

noun

A classification system for viruses according to their type of genome (DNA, RNA, single-stranded (ss), double-stranded (ds) etc.) and their method of replication.

Supplement

Viruses may be classified as follows according to their type of genome:

• Class I : double stranded DNA viruses or dsDNA viruses
• Class II : single stranded DNA viruses or ssDNA viruses
• Class III : double stranded RNA viruses or dsRNA viruses
• Class IV : positive sense, single stranded RNA viruses or (+) ssRNA viruses
• Class V : negative sense, single stranded RNA viruses or (-) ssRNA viruses
• Class VI : single stranded RNA-RT viruses or ssRNA-RT viruses
• Class VII : double stranded DNA viruses or dsDNA-RT viruses