RNA Replication

Exploring RNA Replication What Is RNA Replication and Why Is It Important? RNA replication refers to the process by which RNA molecules are copied to produce identical RNA strands. This process is critical in RNA viruses , where it enables the virus to reproduce and propagate within a host. Unlike DNA replication, which occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, RNA replication typically takes place in the cytoplasm and relies on specialized enzymes to copy RNA without a DNA template. The most well-known context for RNA replication is in viruses such as influenza , coronaviruses , and hepatitis C , which all carry RNA genomes . Once inside the host cell, these viruses use RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Redrop) to copy their RNA, leading to the production of new viral genomes and proteins necessary for assembling new virus particles. RNA replication is also significant in synthetic biology and molecular research. By understanding how RNA molecules self-replicate, scientists ...