Question

What type of RNA does a retrovirus provide?

1) plus strand RNA
2) minus strand RNA
3) both plus and minus strand RNA
4) neither plus nor minus strand RNA

Answer 1

A retrovirus provides positive single-strand RNA (+ssRNA), which gets reverse-transcribed into DNA and integrated into the host genome. The correct option to the student's question is: 1) plus strand RNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of RNA provided by a retrovirus is positive single-strand RNA (+ssRNA). Retroviruses are unique in that they undergo a reverse transcription process where the +ssRNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA using the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The DNA is then integrated into the host cell's genome as a provirus, which can be transcribed to produce viral mRNA and ultimately guide the synthesis of new viral proteins. This process allows the retrovirus to maintain a persistent presence in the host cell and evade immediate immune detection.

It is important to note that while retroviruses carry +ssRNA, they differ significantly from other viruses that solely use +ssRNA to directly synthesize proteins because retroviruses first convert their RNA into DNA, another step in the viral replication process. The correct option to the student's question is: 1) plus strand RNA.