What is the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses?
A) It hydrolyzes the host cell's DNA.
B) It uses viral RNA as a template for DNA synthesis.
C) It converts host cell RNA into viral DNA.
D) It translates viral RNA into proteins.
E) It uses viral RNA as a template for making complementary RNA strands.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that converts viral RNA into DNA. This is a unique feature of retroviruses, which have RNA genomes but replicate via a DNA intermediate. The enzyme uses the viral RNA as a template for synthesizing a complementary DNA strand, which is then used to produce double-stranded DNA that can integrate into the host cell's genome.

What Is the Function of Reverse Transcriptase in Retroviruses