Adenovirus vs. Retrovirus

Adenovirusnoun

(medicine) Any virus of the family Adenoviridae, many of which are responsible for respiratory infections in humans

Adenovirusnoun

any of a group of viruses including those that in humans cause upper respiratory infections or infectious pinkeye

Retrovirusnoun

(virology) Any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell, thus changing the genome of that cell.

Retrovirusnoun

(computer security) A computer virus that seeks to attack antivirus programs in an attempt to avoid detection.

Retrovirusnoun

any of a group of viruses that contain two single-strand linear RNA molecules per virion and reverse transcriptase (RNA to DNA)

Retrovirus

A retrovirus is a type of virus that inserts a copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. Once inside the host cell's cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome, the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro (backwards).