Question

Contrast the life cycles of retroviruses vs. retrotransposons. Please provide at least two differences between them.

Answer 1

The lifecycle of retrovirus begins in the nucleus of an infected cell. The retroviral genome is a DNA element which is integrated into and attached covalently to the DNA of host cell. Full length genomic mRNA is made initiated. The nucleoprotein complex accesses intracellular DNA nucleotide triphosphate pools, where reverse transcriptase creates initiation of double stranded DNA copy of the virus in preparation for integration into the host cell chromosome .

First stage in the life cycle of retrotransposons is the transcription of mRNA, then translation and protein synthesis of active elements takes place. After that,dimerization of RNA takes place. Then RNA is packaged at the start of reverse transcription. The RNA matrix degrades and the initiation of second strand takes place. Double stranded breaks and integration of the newly synthesized copy in a new geomic location happens.