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retrovirus

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Resources
  4. Glossary
  5. retrovirus
Print

Description

A type of virus that has RNA as its genetic material and can use the enzyme reverse transcriptase to produce DNA. This new DNA is then inserted into the DNA of the infected cell, which allows the virus to multiply every time the infected cell reproduces.

Examples of retroviruses include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, and human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type-1 (HTLV-1).

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