Question

Is reverse central dogma found in all viruses?

Answer 1

Virus:

1. They are simple non-cellular entities.
2. They vary in size from 0.02-0.03 micrometre.
3. They can have DNA as well as RNA as the genetic material.
4. They can have single-stranded as well as double-stranded DNA and RNA.
5. Viruses can reproduce only in living organisms and are called obligate intracellular parasites.

Reverse central dogma:

1. RNA tumour viruses have RNA as the genetic material.
2. In RNA viruses, DNA is synthesized on an RNA template with the help of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This process is called reverse transcription.
3. Reverse transcriptase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that can synthesize DNA from an RNA template.
4. From the DNA, mRNA is transcribed which then can participate in protein synthesis.
5. This whole process is called reverse central dogma.

As all viruses are not RNA viruses, thus the reverse central dogma is only found in RNA viruses and not others.