HIV - segmented RNA virus?

[Broker]

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Confused about HIV.

FA says HIV has 2 molecules of RNA, surely that makes it a segmented virus? Although in the FA RNA virus table retroviruses are not segmented?

Not the most important point, but just wanted to clarify that a virus with a segmented genome (Bunya, Orthomyxo, Arena, Reo) have multiple segments of RNA?

Or does HIV not count as segmented as the two molecules are the same? (not sure if they are, but just a guess)

Any help?

 

[lemonade90]

HIV's two RNA strands are identical and it is not segmented. Segmented means a strand (or both strands) is broken up into several parts.

 

[norealname]

HIV is a double stranded RNA virus. That's what is meant by having 2 molecules of RNA (since there are two strands of RNA). It is not a segmented virus.

 

[jfgavina]

this is the kind of info that I didn't memorize for my exam and I hope they're not too harsh about this LOL

 

[norealname]

this is the kind of info that I didn't memorize for my exam and I hope they're not too harsh about this LOL

You're more or less bound to get a question or two on the type of genome a virus has (RNA or DNA, dsDNA or ssDNA, dsRNA or ssRNA, negative or positive polarity, segmented or not, etc...).

 

[newdoc2013]

please refer to this absolutely absurd way to remember RNA viruses.... it works.