noun
- viruses that use RNA as their genetic material and reproduce by inserting their genetic code into the DNA of host cells
Usage: biology; medicine
Examples
- HIV is one of the most well-known retroviruses affecting humans.
- Scientists study retroviruses to understand how they integrate into host cell DNA.
- Some retroviruses can cause cancer by disrupting normal cell growth.
- Retroviruses replicate differently than other types of viruses.
- Researchers use modified retroviruses as vectors in gene therapy.
- The discovery of retroviruses revolutionized our understanding of viral reproduction.