• All DNA viruses consist of molecules which are double-stranded with the exception of parvoviruses and circoviruses
  • It may be linear or circular
  • DNA molecules of papova-, hepadna-, and circo- is circular, while that of herpes-, pox-, and adeno- are linear
  • Linear viral DNA can adopt circular configuration by a rolling circle mechanism during replication
  • The size of the DNA ranges from 1.7 kilobases (kb) for circoviruses to over 200 kilobase pairs (kbp) for herpesviruses and poxviruses