Final answer:
The term “segmented” in the context of viruses refers to their genetic material being split into multiple pieces of RNA. Segmented viruses have their genome divided among several RNA segments, allowing for diverse evolutionary processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term “segmented” refers to viruses that may contain several pieces of RNA. In a segmented virus, the genome is split among multiple fragments, with each segment often coding for a distinct viral protein. Segmentation can affect how viruses evolve and how they exchange genetic information when two different strains infect the same host cell, enabling the possibility of genetic reassortment or antigenic shift. This is significantly different from viruses with non-segmented genomes, where all genetic information is contained within a single continuous molecule of nucleic acid.