Question

Some RNA viruses carry a gene for an enzyme that uses viral RNA as a template in the synthesis of DNA. This enzyme is:

Options

• RNA replicase

• reverse transcriptase

• viral nuclease

• RNA polymerase

Answer 1

reverse transcriptase

Explanation:

Reverse transcriptase is a unique enzyme that allows certain viruses to perform transcription in “reverse.” While most life forms copy DNA into RNA, this enzyme uses the viral RNA as a template to build a matching strand of DNA. This allows the virus to sneak its genetic code into the host cell’s own DNA, effectively taking control of the cell to make more viruses.