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retro-viral

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ret⋅ro⋅vi⋅rus

  [re-truh-vahy-ruhs, re-truh-vahy-]
Use retro-viral in a Sentence
–noun, plural -rus⋅es.
any of a family of single-stranded RNA viruses having a helical envelope and containing an enzyme that allows for a reversal of genetic transcription, from RNA to DNA rather than the usual DNA to RNA, the newly transcribed viral DNA being incorporated into the host cell's DNA strand for the production of new RNA retroviruses: the family includes the AIDS virus and certain oncogene-carrying viruses implicated in various cancers.
Origin:
1975–80; retro- + virus

Related forms:
ret⋅ro⋅vi⋅ral, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Cultural Dictionary

retrovirus

A virus, such as HIV, whose RNA codes for DNA, which is then inserted into some part of the host's DNA. This virus comes with its own special enzyme, called reverse transcriptase, which facilitates this insertion.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

retrovirus 
1977, earlier retravirus (1974), from re(verse) tra(nscriptase) + virus. So called because it contains reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that uses RNA instead of DNA to encode genetic information, which reverses the usual pattern. Remodeled by infl. of retro- "backwards."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ret·ro·vi·rus
Pronunciation: 're-trO-"vI-r&s
Function: noun
: any of a family (Retroviridae) of single-stranded RNAviruses (as HIV and the Rous sarcoma virus) that produce reverse transcriptase by means of which DNA is synthesized using their RNA as a template and incorporated into the genome of infected cells andthat include numerous tumorigenic viruses called also RNA tumor virus —ret·ro·vi·ral /-r&l/ adjective —ret·ro·vi·ral·ly /-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

retrovirus ret·ro·vi·rus (rět'rō-vī'rəs, rět'rə-vī'-)
n. pl. ret·ro·vi·rus·es
A virus of the family Retroviridae.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
retrovirus   (rět'rō-vī'rəs)  Pronunciation Key 
Any of a group of RNA viruses whose RNA is used as a template inside a host cell for the formation of DNA by means of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The DNA thus formed is inserted into the host cell's genome. Most retroviruses can cause cancer. Retroviruses also include HIV.

retroviral adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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