Question

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The discovery of some virus, such as coronavirus, led to the revision of the central dogma biology? What is the basis?

Answer 1

Viruses like the coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus. The RNA virus infects the host cell. It injects its genome into the host cell. The host cell recognized the RNA as its own RNA and uses the ribosomal machinery to translate the RNA into viral proteins which are then combined to form the viral capsids. However, these new capsids lack the RNA genome.

This is ensured by the presence of an enzyme called the Reverse Transcriptase. The reverse transcriptase is an interesting enzyme. It is an RNA-dependent DNA Polymerase, which means it uses RNA as the template and converts it to DNA. The DNA can then be used as a template by the host's DNA Polymerase to synthesize the RNA which is the genome of the virus. The RNA genome is then integrated into the capsids and the new virions are released to start a new cycle.

The traditional Central Dogma states that DNA can be transcribed into RNA by the RNA Polymerase. The RNA is then translated into protein by the Ribosome. Also the DNA can be replicated by the DNA Polymerase. However, RNA viruses like the coronavirus suggest an unknown way of information transfer. This transfer of information has led to revision of central dogma which is the step of conversion of RNA to DNA via a Reverse Transcriptase.