Define the term retroviruses

Question

Define the term retroviruses? Explain how they reproduce and what is the role of enzyme reverse transcriptase?

Answer 1

Retroviruses are the viruses whose genetic material is RNA. HIV and the virus of SARS (that is, severe acute respiratory syndrome) are illustrations of retrovirus. Such viruses inoculate their RNA into host cell and in the cell, viral RNA is reversely transcripted into the DNA. DNA made up from the viral RNA then commands the synthesis of viral proteins for assemblage of new viruses and the breaking of host cell to release them outside. The enzyme reverse transcriptase is the catalyst of reverse transcription of RNA into DNA. Enzyme is a part of the virus and it is as well inoculated into host cell.