Final answer:
To create a transducing virus, specific genes such as the Gag, RT, Prt, and Int genes are needed for the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host's genome and potentially lead to tumor development. Retroviruses use reverse transcriptase to incorporate their genetic material into the host. Bacteriophages facilitate gene transfer between hosts through generalized or specialized transduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To make a transducing virus, specific genes are required, such as:
- Gag gene - encodes group-specific antigen, a protein forming virus-like particles that contain reverse-transcribed transposon DNA.
- RT gene - encodes the reverse transcriptase, which makes reverse-transcribed copies of retrotransposon transcript RNAs.
- Prt gene - encodes a protease that breaks down the virus-like particle as the retrotransposon enters the nucleus.
- Int gene - encodes the integrase required for integration of the retrotransposon into genomic DNA.
These genes are crucial for the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host's genome, which can lead to the overexpression of proto-oncogenes and potentially to the development of tumors. In retroviruses like HIV, the virus synthesizes a DNA version of its RNA genes using the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is then incorporated into the host's genome.
Bacteriophages can transfer genetic material between hosts through either generalized or specialized transduction, which involves the virus accidentally packaging host DNA into its capsid and infecting a new host with it. This mechanism of horizontal gene transfer contributes to genetic diversity and can spread genes between species.