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the_master_command3r t1_izoymge wrote

Viruses are essentially little balls filled with genetic information and a couple of proteins that act like machines to help the viral genetic information get copied inside the cell. This involves taking the viral genome, converting it into a usable form, sticking it inside host cell ribosomes (protein making machines), and forcing them to make viral proteins. Most of the time, this happens outside the nucleus and often never involves DNA. However, for a certain type of viruses called retroviruses, converting the viral genome into a usable form involves a protein called reverse transcriptase. This takes viral genetic material and converts it into DNA just like what we have in our own cells. These retroviruses then trick host cells into taking that DNA inside the nucleus where it is slipped inside a chromosome.

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-Metacelsus- t1_izs2o8x wrote

> where it is slipped inside a chromosome.

To expand upon this point, the retroviruses also have an enzyme called integrase that inserts their DNA into the host genome. Integrase inhibitors are a class of anti-HIV drugs.

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katt2002 t1_izrvnfw wrote

what happens to the host after that? taking useless genetic information. won't the host DNA become longer overtime?

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CrateDane t1_izsv42c wrote

Yes, the host genome will grow with integrations like this. Genomes are often inflated due to integration of viral sequences and other selfish genetic elements. This helps explain the extreme variation in genome size among eukaryotes.

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