in fact, a similar event occurs each time viral infections occur within living organisms. the viruses, whether positive or negative sense viruses, require a living organism to replicate their genes and produce more viruses. once a virus is inside a living organism, it utilizes polymerases, ribosomes, and other biomolecules to replicate its own genetic material and to produce more virus genetic material similar to the original virus. thus, gene transfer may occur through many varying means. thus, the study of this gene transfer throughout each ecosystem, whether it be through a bacterial ecosystem or through the ecosystem of an organism, genetic ecology is the study of this gene transfer and its causes.