What distinguishes dsRNA viruses from RNA viruses that reverse transcribe?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the distinguishing characteristics between double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses and RNA viruses that undergo reverse transcription. The options provide different attributes that could be true or false for each virus type.
Answer
dsRNA viruses use RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; reverse-transcribing RNA viruses use reverse transcriptase.
dsRNA viruses have double-stranded RNA genomes and use viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to transcribe their genome into mRNA, whereas reverse-transcribing RNA viruses (like retroviruses) convert their RNA genome into DNA using reverse transcriptase.
Answer for screen readers
dsRNA viruses have double-stranded RNA genomes and use viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to transcribe their genome into mRNA, whereas reverse-transcribing RNA viruses (like retroviruses) convert their RNA genome into DNA using reverse transcriptase.
More Information
dsRNA viruses replicate entirely in the cytoplasm, using their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, while reverse-transcribing viruses integrate into the host genome.
Tips
Don't confuse RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with reverse transcriptase; they have distinct functions.
Sources
- The web page with info on - Reverse Transcribing Virus - an overview - sciencedirect.com
- Baltimore classification - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- The Baltimore Classification System - News-Medical - news-medical.net
