GED Science TestLife ScienceHard
A public health official is investigating a sudden outbreak of a viral disease. Rapid diagnostic tests confirm the presence of viral RNA in infected individuals. The virus is known to integrate its genetic material into the host cell's DNA before replication. Which class of viruses is most likely responsible for this outbreak?
- ADNA viruses
- BPrions
- CRNA retroviruses
- DBacteriophages
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. RNA retroviruses
The key information is that the virus has RNA as its genetic material (viral RNA) and integrates its genetic material into the host cell's DNA. This process, known as reverse transcription, is characteristic of retroviruses, which use an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA into DNA that can then integrate into the host genome.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. DNA viruses have DNA as their genetic material and typically replicate in the nucleus, but don't convert RNA to DNA.
- B. Prions are infectious proteins, not viruses, and do not contain genetic material.
- D. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, not typically human cells in this context, and don't necessarily integrate RNA into DNA.
Retrovirus
A class of RNA viruses that utilize the enzyme reverse transcriptase to produce DNA from their RNA genome, which is then integrated into the host cell's DNA.
- Possess an RNA genome.
- Requires reverse transcriptase for replication.
- Integrates a DNA copy into the host genome.
- HIV is a well-known retrovirus.
Memory trick: Viruses: DNA or RNA, Direct or Reverse, Integration is the Retrovirus's Secret.