This page will discuss the similarities and differences of these biological entities. The process of viral multiplication involves several discrete steps. First, the virus must recognize and attach to its host cell. Generally, viruses are limited as to the type of host cell in which they can multiply and so recognition is often very specific. Viruses adsorb to their host cell surface via specific antireceptor molecules, often glycoproteins.
Adsorption is generally temperature and energy independent.
Once inside the host cell, uncoating releases the viral genome to be replicated. The replication scheme employed by the viruses depends upon the type of genome that each contains. The mRNA can then be translated into proteins. Structural proteins translated from the mRNA are then used to package progeny -RNA and RDRP into virions. Most DNA viruses utilize a standard semi-conservative mode of replication.