Final answer:
Retroviral 'like' refers to retroviral DNA that behaves like a retrotransposon, producing endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). True retroviruses are infectious agents that replicate their RNA genomes into DNA and integrate into the host cell's genome. The main differences are the ability to produce infectious viral particles and the reliance on host cells for replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Retroviral 'like' refers to retroviral DNA that has become a defective version and behaves like a retrotransposon, producing endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Retroviruses, on the other hand, are infectious agents that replicate their RNA genomes into DNA using reverse transcriptase and integrate into the host cell's genome.
Retroviruses, such as HIV, cause diseases like AIDS. The main differences between retroviral 'like' and true retroviruses are the ability to produce infectious viral particles and the reliance on host cells for replication.