Multiple Choice
Which of the following describes a consequence of lysogeny that could result in human disease?
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17. Viruses
Viruses
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Which gene is commonly shared by retroviruses and retrotransposons?
A
Helicase
B
DNA polymerase
C
Reverse transcriptase
D
Ribosomal RNA
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the function of reverse transcriptase: Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that synthesizes DNA from an RNA template. This process is crucial for retroviruses and retrotransposons, which use RNA as a template to integrate into the host genome.
Identify the role of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses: Retroviruses, such as HIV, use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA genome into DNA, which can then be integrated into the host cell's DNA, allowing the virus to replicate.
Identify the role of reverse transcriptase in retrotransposons: Retrotransposons are genetic elements that can move around within the genome. They use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA intermediate into DNA, which is then inserted into new locations in the genome.
Compare reverse transcriptase with other enzymes listed: Helicase is involved in unwinding DNA strands, DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA from a DNA template, and ribosomal RNA is part of the ribosome structure and involved in protein synthesis. None of these have the specific function of converting RNA to DNA.
Conclude that reverse transcriptase is the common gene shared by both retroviruses and retrotransposons due to its unique ability to synthesize DNA from an RNA template, which is essential for their replication and integration processes.
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