Question

HIV is a retrovirus because its genetic information is carried in

• A. DNA instead of RNA
• B. DNA
• C. RNA instead of DNA
• D. Protein coat

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

RNA instead of DNA

HIV is a retrovirus that causes AIDS. Retrovirus is a single stranded positive sense RNA virus with a DNA intermediate. These viruses carry the genes codes for enzyme reverse transcriptase which produce cDNA from RNA which can be integrated into host genome. So HIV is a retrovirus because its genetic information is carried in RNA and not as DNA.

So, the correct answer is 'RNA instead of DNA'.