This activity allows students to model how the anti-HIV drug AZT (azidothymidine) interferes with the process of viral replication.

This hands-on activity is part of a series of activities and demonstrations focusing on various aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle. Students will first model reverse transcription, the process that results in the production of a double-stranded DNA copy of the HIV single-stranded RNA genome. Using an actual HIV RNA sequence as a template, students will model the synthesis of a complementary strand of DNA by attaching nucleotides to one another. Then, students will substitute AZT in place of thymidine. When AZT is incorporated in a growing DNA sequence it prevents further nucleotides from being added, thereby blocking the production of HIV DNA.