Viruses are classified based on their genetic material, which is either DNA or RNA, but not both.
* DNA viruses contain DNA as their genetic material. Examples include Herpes simplex virus, Adenoviruses, and Papillomaviruses.
* RNA viruses contain RNA as their genetic material. Examples include Influenza virus, HIV, and Ebola virus.
While there are some viruses with complex life cycles, such as retroviruses, which use an RNA intermediate to integrate their DNA into the host genome, they still ultimately rely on either DNA or RNA as their primary genetic material.
