10-12 dsRNA segments (9 segment reovirus recently identified, not included here)
Found in mammals, invertebrates, plants
Terminal sequences conserved, but slightly different for each segment
Particle important for replication, capping, mRNA production
No known nuclear component to infection cycle – all cytoplasmic
Very important for early RNA studies
Discovery of capping (Aaron Shatkin)
Studies on translation initiation (Marilyn Kozak)