The genome has three double stranded RNA segments.
It is possible using gene synthesis machines to make trillions of random RNA segments and let them fold into their natural shapes.
Types A and B have 8 RNA segments and encode at least 10 proteins.
Subtype C has 7 RNA segments and encodes 9 proteins.
Genome redundancy would allow a damaged RNA segment to be replaced by an additional replication of its homolog.
These RNA segments are single-stranded, and exist in a helical formation within the virion.
The virus contains a beaded nucleocapsid with two single-stranded RNA segments.
It encodes by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment.
M2 is a protein that uncoats the virus, thereby exposing its contents (the eight RNA segments) to the cytoplasm of the host cell.
M2 protein is encoded on the seventh RNA segment together with the matrix protein M1.