Which of the following statements is not true for retroviruses?

Which of the following statements is not true for retroviruses?
  1. DNA is not present at any stage in the life cycle of retroviruses
  2. Retroviruses carry gene for RNAdependent DNA polymerase
  3. The genetic material in mature retroviruses is RNA
  4. Retroviruses are causative agents for certain kinds of cancer in man.

Solution

Retrovirus once it has infected a cell, it converts its RNA into DNA by reverse transcription. This viral DNA is then inserted into the DNA of the host cell where it starts replicating. For e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Related Theory Difference Between Retrovirus and Virus $\begin{array}{|l|l|}
\hline \text{Retrovirus } & \text{Virus } \\
\hline \begin{array}{l}
\text{These have RNA as genetic material.}
\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}
\text{These have RNA and DNA as the genetic material.}
\end{array} \\
\hline \begin{array}{l}
\text{They undergo reverse transcription to} \\
\text{convert the RNA into DNA.}
\end{array} & \begin{array}{l}
\text{Only RNA viruses undergo reverse transcription.}
\end{array} \\
\hline \text{Diplopoda} & \begin{array}{l}
\text{Head + thorax + abdomen}
\end{array} \\
\hline \text{Insecta} & \begin{array}{l}
\text{Head + thorax + abdomen}
\end{array} \\
\hline \text{Onychophora} & \text{Unsegmented body} \\
\hline \text{Merostoma} & \text{Cephalothorax} \\
\hline \text{Arachnida} & \text{Cephalothorax} \\
\hline
\end{array}$

Asked in: NEET 2004

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