introduction
microbfreak@bs
Greetings!Welcome to our blog assignment!
This blog is set up for our CL1202 module - Microbiology B
Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stay here! :D
Why is Genome Diploid?
Saturday, January 31, 2009/ 11:26 PM
Why Is the Genome Diploid?
Why the retroviral genome is not clear. In other instances where reverse transcription occurs, such as in the Hepadnaviruses and the Retrotransposons, the RNA to be copied is not diploid. Furthermore, in vitro studies have shown that retroviral RT can use a single copy of the RNA genome to produce a full-length dsDNA. Thus, two copies of the genome are not essential. However, it is possible that during infection the process is more efficient if the RT can go back and forth between the two copies, and this resulted in selection for a diploid genome in Retroviruses. The process of reverse transcription to produce the viral dsDNA is complex with the multiple jumps more efficient. Other possible advantages of a diploid genome that could have resulted in selective pressure for diploid are the possibility of overcoming at least some damage in the RNA by switching templates, and the fact that switching templates result in recombination. Recombination does occur frequently in Retroviruses, and it is clear from many studies of virus evolution that recombination is important in their evolution.
Labels: Natasya