Which of the following characteristics correctly describes retroviruses?
A) They are not destroyed or deactivated by heating.
B) They can only reproduce by infecting bacteria.
C) They have a single-stranded DNA that is integrated into the host cell genome.
D) They have a single-stranded RNA that acts as a template for DNA synthesis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that, upon infection of a host cell, is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which then integrates into the host cell's genome. This process is facilitated by the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which retroviruses carry, allowing them to use RNA as a template for DNA synthesis.

Which of the Following Characteristics Correctly Describes Retroviruses