Question

Choose the correct option regarding retrovirus.

• A. An RNA virus that can synthesise DNA during infection.
• B. A DNA virus that can synthesis RNA during infection.
• C. A ssDNA virus
• D. A dsRNA virus

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

An RNA virus that can synthesise DNA during infection.

A retrovirus is an ssRNA virus that stores its nucleic acid in the form of an mRNA genome and targets a host cell as an obligate parasite. Once inside the host cell cytoplasm the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzymes to produce DNA from its RNA genome (the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro).