English: Schematic diagram of Ranavirus replication. Virions enter cells by one of two possible routes and initial events in virus replication (early viral transcription and the synthesis of unit length genomes) take place within the nucleus. Viral genomes are subsequently transported into the cytoplasm where they are methylated and serve as templates for concatemer formation. Viral assembly sites contain viral DNA and a number of virus-encoded proteins and serve as the loci of virion formation. Newly synthesized virions are found free within the cytoplasm or within paracrystalline arrays, and, a minority, at least in vitro, bud from the plasma membrane and in the process acquire an envelope