Question

Assertion :HIV is called a retro virus. Reason: HIV can synthesize new genomic RNA on the RNA template itself without requiring a DNA intermediate.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is C Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect

A retrovirus is a type of RNA virus that inserts a copy of its genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. HIV is an enveloped retrovirus. Each virus particle contains two copies of an RNA genome. RNA viruses such as HIV, have RNA genomes, which can also be either double-stranded (dsRNA) or single-stranded (ssRNA). Their genomes can be either RNA or DNA. Retroviruses are ssRNA viruses that replicate through a DNA intermediate, thus requiring a virus-encoded RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase).

So, the correct answer is 'Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect'.