Final answer:
During reverse transcription of retroviral RNA, degradation of viral RNA by RNase H, priming by tRNA, and generation of two LTRs occur, facilitated by the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the reverse transcription of retroviral genomic RNA, several key processes occur. One significant event is the degradation of the viral RNA by RNase H activity. Additionally, both genomic RNA and tRNA serve as primers in the formation of the DNA strand, with the tRNA priming the synthesis of the negative (-) DNA strand.
An important aspect of this process is the generation of two long terminal repeats (LTRs), which are essential for the integration of the viral DNA into the host genome. The action of reverse transcriptase, a viral enzyme, is central to this transformation, as it transcribes the RNA template to form a complementary DNA (cDNA) strand. This enzyme uniquely characterizes retroviruses, such as HIV, and distinguishes them from other viruses in the Baltimore classification scheme.