Multiple Choice
Which feature is common to both living cells and viruses?
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17. Viruses
Viruses
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Where is the enzyme reverse transcriptase typically found?
A
In human red blood cells
B
In plant chloroplasts
C
In retroviruses such as HIV
D
In bacterial ribosomes
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the role of reverse transcriptase. Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that synthesizes DNA from an RNA template, a process called reverse transcription. This is contrary to the usual flow of genetic information (DNA → RNA → Protein).
Step 2: Identify the organisms or entities where reverse transcription is essential. Reverse transcriptase is typically found in retroviruses, such as HIV, because these viruses rely on reverse transcription to integrate their RNA genome into the host's DNA.
Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. Human red blood cells do not contain reverse transcriptase because they lack nuclei and do not perform reverse transcription. Plant chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis and do not require reverse transcriptase. Bacterial ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis, not reverse transcription.
Step 4: Focus on retroviruses. Retroviruses, such as HIV, use reverse transcriptase as a key enzyme in their replication cycle. This allows them to convert their RNA genome into DNA, which can then integrate into the host genome.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is 'In retroviruses such as HIV,' as this is the only option where reverse transcriptase is naturally found and plays a critical biological role.
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