Characteristics

Characteristics

The classification of retroviruses is based on:
- comparisons of the size of the genome and
- morphologic characteristics (see Table 1).
RNA genome of retroviruses - single-stranded & possesses "positive" polarity similar to that found in messenger RNA (mRNA).
Virions (virus particles) contain two 5′ ("five prime"), end-linked, identical copies of the genome RNA, and are therefore said to be diploid.

Table 1