How do you modify the DNA of viruses?

Question: How do you modify the DNA of viruses?
- Keywords:
- Click on a keyword to find out more on the RSC site:
  
  dna
  
  virus
Asked by Emily to Daniela ? on 23 Jun 2016.
- Daniela Lobo answered on 23 Jun 2016:
  
  Hi Emily,
  
  Good question!
  In my case, I am treating the DNA of the viruses in a similar way I would treat other organisms DNA. The general technique is called “cloning”. Basically, you cut the viral DNA (which in my case is circular, so imagine cutting a circle in one place only, so you end up with a linear strand) with special enzymes that cut only in very specific sites on the DNA; this is called “digestion”. You then add the extra bit of DNA you are interested in including on your virus. You close your DNA circle with an enzyme called “ligase” in a process called “ligation”. There are other steps downstream (“transformation”, “miniprep”,…) that are a bit more complicated to explain (let me know if you want more detail), but this is the general procedure in molecular biology to modify DNA.

Question: How do you modify the DNA of viruses?