Abstract: Viruses are versatile organisms with a unique ability to respond rapidly to changes in their environment. The environment, however, includes cells, tissues, complex organisms and populations of these organisms. Changes that impact virus fitness at any of these levels can elicit a response that is often reflected in the viral genome. Thus, detailed analyses of viral genomes, coupled with knowledge of the cellular, molecular and population biology of the host, can provide important insights into dynamical interactions at multiple biological scales. This seminar will present research from my lab discussing our approach to studying host biology from the perspective of a virus.