Retrovirus vs. provirus

Started by DDSguyLA
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DDSguyLA

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can someone put these in simple language?? whats the diff?
what should we know?
wiki and my bio book confused me.

Thanks
 
retrovirus is basically HIV, it can make cDNA from RNA using reverse transcriptase...

provirus is the general term used to explain the integration of the virus' nucleic acids into host DNA. Then theres bacteriophage which just attacks bacteria. And prophage describes the integration of the virus' nucleic acids into bacterial DNA.
 
provirus = viral DNA that is incorporated in to a host-cell chromosome ( host cell mostly is bacteria)..remember all those transduction and bacteriophage?

retrovirus= Is RNA virus that uses its own reverse transcriptase(an enzyme) to transcibe RNA --->DNA and then start its activity