Question

Assertion: AIDS is caused by HIV, a retrovirus.
Reason: Retroviruses have an RNA genome.
A) Both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion
B) Both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion
C) Assertion is true but the reason is false
D) Both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is a disease which is spread through the contact of the body fluid of the infected person. It affects the immune system of the person. This disease is potentially fatal.

Complete answer:
AIDS is a viral disease that attacks the immune cells and reduces the capability of the person to fight against diseases. This disease is caused by the HIV virus. A virus requires a host for the replication of its genetic material. HIV stands for Human immune virus. This virus is a retrovirus. The retrovirus is the class of virus that have RNA as their genetic material. It inserts its RNA into the host DNA

Structure of HIV virus-
The HIV virus contains a protein coat. Inside the coat/capsid has two copies of Single-stranded RNA. It has the enzyme called reverse transcriptase. It makes complementary viral DNA from the RNA template inside the host with the help of the integrase enzyme it incorporates the viral genome into the host and changes the genome of the host. The host multiplies the viral genome as its own genome. The host further produces all the proteins required for the assembling of the RNA.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: The retroviral genome is inserted into the host at random sites. So it can also be incorporated into the oncogenes which causes cancers. Retrovirus can cause cancers and tumour by causing the mutation and also controlling the signalling of the cell for apoptosis. Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat the retroviral disease.