Question

The genetic material of the human immunodeficiency virus is made up of

• A. 1 copy of double stranded RNA
• B. 1 copy of double stranded DNA
  
• C. 2 copies of single stranded DNA
  
• D. 2 copies of single stranded RNA
  

Answer 1

The correct option is D 2 copies of single stranded RNA


The human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a retrovirus and thus its genetic material is composed of ribonucleic acid or RNA. It is a spherical enveloped virus. The outermost layer is an envelope made up of a lipid bilayer which consists of a large number of knob-like spikes made up of viral glycoproteins (gp).
The protein coat surrounds the genetic material which is in the form of 2 identical copies of ssRNA. Associated with the 2 viral ssRNA strands, there are 2 molecules of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase.
Being a virus, HIV needs a host to multiply and after entry into the host cell, the reverse transcriptase enzyme catalyses the conversion of its RNA genome into double stranded viral DNA which gets integrated into the host genome. This process is known as reverse transcription.
The viral DNA then directs the host cell to assist the formation of viral particles which lyse the host cell to be released.
HIV attacks the immune cells and thus severely damages the immune system.