There is a wide range of applications for synthetic viral technology such as medical treatments, investigative tools, and reviving organisms.
RNA viruses have historically been utilized due to the typically small genome size and existing reverse transcription machinery present.
For many viruses, viral RNA is infectious when introduced into a cell (during infection or after reverse transcription).
These organisms are able to sustain an infectious life cycle upon introduction in vivo.
Synthetic viruses have also been researched as potential gene therapy tools.