Changes

A '''retrovirus''' is a [[virus]] in the family ''Retroviridae''. While many viruses use [[DNA]] to store genetic information, a retrovirus uses [[RNA]]. Because the infected cell will only replicate the retrovirus' genes if they are also DNA, the virus must rely on [[reverse transcriptase]] to [[transcribe]] its RNA into DNA and then insert it into the host [[genome]]. The retrovirus has significant clinical importance since [[HIV]], which causes [[AIDS]], is a retrovirus.   

A '''retrovirus''' is a [[virus]] in the family ''Retroviridae''. Unlike other viruses that use [[DNA]] to store genetic information, a retrovirus uses [[RNA]]. Because the infected cell will only replicate the retrovirus' genes if they are also DNA, the virus must rely on [[reverse transcriptase]] to [[transcribe]] its RNA into DNA and then insert it into the host [[genome]]. The retrovirus has significant clinical importance since [[HIV]], which causes [[AIDS]], is a retrovirus.   

The retrovirus consists of a [[protein]] [[capsid]], base, RNA genome, and the reverse transcriptase. Since RNA is never coded back into DNA in an uninfected cell there is no endogenous reverse transcriptase in the cytoplasm. The retrovirus must bring it with it. The discovery of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses has been a major boon for the biomedical industry where conversion of RNA to DNA is used in many genetic treatments and research.  

The retrovirus consists of a [[protein]] [[capsid]], base, RNA genome, and the reverse transcriptase. Since RNA is never coded back into DNA in an uninfected cell there is no endogenous reverse transcriptase in the cytoplasm. The retrovirus must bring it with it. The discovery of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses has been a major boon for the biomedical industry where conversion of RNA to DNA is used in many genetic treatments and research.