DNA provirus hypothesis

The DNA provirus hypothesis explains how retroviruses, like HIV, can integrate their genetic material into a host cell's DNA. Retroviruses carry an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which can transcribe the virus's RNA into DNA. This viral DNA, known as a provirus, can then be inserted into the host cell's genome. Once integrated, the provirus replicates along with the host cell's DNA, becoming a permanent part of the cell's genetic material. This process allows the virus to persist within the host and can lead to diseases such as AIDS. The discovery of reverse transcriptase challenged the "central dogma" of molecular biology, which stated that genetic information flows only from DNA to RNA.12345