Question

Who discovered the synthesis of DNA from RNA in the Rous sarcoma virus?
A. Smith
B. Temin
C. Twort
D. Meyer

Answer 1

The process of reverse transcription was discovered in Rous sarcoma virus by two people, one of which is Baltimore.

Complete answer: Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses.
1. Retroviruses have a special enzyme known as reverse transcriptase.
2. The enzyme helps in the reverse transcription process by which the viruses replicate their genomes to proliferate within the host genome after the infection to the host cell.
3. Here the RNA is converted into DNA which is the direct reverse of the transcription process, where the DNA is converted into RNA.
4. The reverse transcriptase enzyme was discovered by Howard Temin from the Rous sarcoma virus in the year 1970.
5. It was independently isolated by Davis Baltimore from the Rous sarcoma virus and another RNA tumor virus in the year 1970. They both shared the Nobel Prize in 1975 for the discovery and work on reverse transcriptase enzyme.

Additional information: Rous sarcoma virus causes sarcoma in chicken.
It is the first oncovirus to have described. Rous sarcoma virus belonging to the retrovirus family have RNA as their genetic material.
The retroviruses during the infection will transfer their genetic material into the host cell.
Since the host genetic material is DNA, the RNA from the virus cannot be directly incorporated into the host genetic material for its replication.
So, the virus uses this reverse transcriptase enzyme to convert the RNA into DNA, for the incorporation and easy replication along with host genetic material.

Hence the correct option is ‘B’.

Note: Temin was the first to discover the process of reverse transcription and also the reverse transcriptase enzyme in the Rous Sarcoma Virus.
Reverse transcription is the process where the reverse of transcription occurs that is the conversion of RNA to DNA.