Virology Lectures 2020, 9: Reverse transcription and integration

In this lecture we discuss reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that produces DNA from RNA. Its discovery has revolutionized biology. the mechanism of reverse transcription and integration, and its role in the reproduction cycles of retroviruses and hepatitis B virus. We also introduce retroelements, mobile DNA sequences that move about the genome through the action of reverse transcriptase, which make up an amazing 42 of the human genome.