Every living organism has deoxyribonucleic acid, but their cells vary. Some viruses, however, use RNA. Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, found in organisms contains all the instructions necessary to create different proteins with different functions, but the molecule cannot leave the nucleus; this is where ribonucleic acid, or RNA, comes in (Hall, 7). Deoxyribonucleic acid has several different components that come together in a different structure than ribonucleic acid (Hall, 9). Ribonucleic acid is very versatile in its structure and functions. In the life of DNA and RNA, each goes through processes called replication, translation, meiosis, and mitosis (Hall, 16, 18). During any of these processes, mutations can occur; one of these mutations can cause oncogenic viruses (Hall, 53). RNA is an essential molecule that deals with coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes (Epigenetics Modifications and Viral Infections, 2007-2014). When it comes to epigenetic alterations in oncogenic viruses, this leads to the discovery of how viruses can infect our cells through inheritance, such as certain cancers. Deoxyribose and ribose are two nucleic acids that provide clues to epigenetic alterations in early oncogenic viruses. Because DNA contains the instructions for making proteins, but must be highly protected, it does not leave the nucleus where it is primarily located (Room, 6). The function of DNA is to ensure the long-term storage and transmission of genetic information (DNA vs RNA, 2014). Copies of some instructions needed by proteins can be made as RNA. It's not an exact copy of what's found in DNA, but RNA can exit the nucleus with the instructions. RNA is...... middle of paper...... with some differences. Works cited---. “DNA versus RNA”. Difference and comparison. Diffen, and Web. April 1, 2014. .---. “Epigenetic modifications and viral infections.” Frontiers in Genetics. Frontières Médias SA, 2007-2014. Internet. March 31, 2014. .Flanagan, JM “Epigenetic modifications of the host by oncogenic viruses.” Nature Publishing Group, December 19, 2006. Web. March 31, 2014. .Hall, Linley Erin. “Understanding genetic DNA and RNA.” New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2011. Print. April 1, 2014.---. “RNA: the versatile molecule. » University of Utah, 2014. Web. March 31. 2014. .