Final answer:
e. dsDNA
Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme associated with retroviruses, enabling them to synthesize DNA from their RNA genome, which then integrates into the host genome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme associated with retroviruses, such as HIV, which are viruses that have a single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) as their genetic material. The enzyme carries out the process of reverse transcription, where it synthesizes a complementary strand of DNA (cDNA) from the viral RNA. This newly formed DNA is then used to produce a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which can integrate into the host's genome as a provirus, leading to chronic infection. Reverse transcriptase is a key enzyme used by retroviruses to replicate their genome within host cells, and it is also exploited as a laboratory tool in genetic engineering and research.