The Genome of Which of the Following Types of Animal

Question

The genome of which of the following types of animal virus can act directly as mRNA?
A) retroviruses
B) +ssRNA viruses
C) -ssRNA viruses
D) ssDNA viruses
E) dsRNA viruses

Accepted Answer

+ssRNA viruses have a genome that acts directly as mRNA and can be translated by the host cell's ribosomes. Retroviruses use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA genome into DNA before it can be transcribed into mRNA. -ssRNA viruses and dsRNA viruses require viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to transcribe their genome into mRNA. ssDNA viruses do not have an RNA genome.