Retrovirus -

Retroviruses are a unique family of viruses that have fundamentally changed our understanding of genetics, evolution, and medicine. Unlike most living organisms that store genetic information as DNA, retroviruses carry their genetic blueprint as . Their name refers to their "backward" replication process: they use a specialized enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA into DNA once they infect a host cell. The Replication Cycle: Rewriting the Host’s Code

: The virus attaches to specific receptors on a host cell (like CD4 receptors in the case of HIV) and fuses with the membrane, releasing its RNA and enzymes into the cytoplasm. Retrovirus

Retroviruses are responsible for several significant human diseases. The most well-known is , which attacks the immune system's T-cells and can lead to AIDS . Other notable human retroviruses include: Retroviruses are a unique family of viruses that

: The host cell's machinery mistakenly treats the provirus as one of its own genes, producing viral mRNA and proteins. These components assemble into new, immature viral particles that bud off from the cell. The Replication Cycle: Rewriting the Host’s Code :