Knowing that retroviruses operate on the principle of reversing thedirection of transcription from RNA to DNA, propose a drug thatmight possibly interfere with their replication.
Knowing that retroviruses operate on the principle of reversing the
direction of transcription from RNA to DNA, propose a drug that
might possibly interfere with their replication.
Retroviruses could do reverse transcription. That is, retroviruses could make DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from RNA (ribonucleic acid). In bacterial and eukaryotic cells, transcription is making RNA from DNA. RNA is single-stranded. DNA is double-stranded.
Drugs that target the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of retroviruses would not be effective at killing the retroviruses. The retroviruses could use their RNAs (ribonucleic acid) to make new DNAs molecules. Drugs that target only the RNA (ribonucleic acid) of retroviruses would not be effective either. Even if the present RNAs molecules are destroyed, transcription could still occur if the DNA is still present. Consequently, more RNA molecules would be produced.
Therefore, drugs that are effective at destroying the retroviruses must stop the replication of DNA from RNA. The drugs must also stop the transcription of RNA from DNA. The drugs must target both at the DNA and the RNA.
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