Viral DNA Integration

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General High School — AP/IB

Saved By

7 Users

Description

In this hands-on activity, students model how a double-stranded DNA copy of the HIV genome is integrated into the host cell DNA.

This activity is part of a series of activities and demonstrations focusing on various aspects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) life cycle. In this activity, students model the integration step.

HIV is a retrovirus. Retroviruses are distinguished from other types of viruses by two key steps in the replication cycle: reverse transcription and integration. After HIV infects a host cell, reverse transcription results in the production of a double-stranded DNA copy of the single-stranded HIV RNA genome. Integration results in the insertion of the HIV DNA into a region of the host genome.

Student Learning Targets

Model how viral RNA is integrated into host cell DNA by using different colors of plastic pop beads.
Apply concepts related to DNA and RNA synthesis to viral replication processes.

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

DNA, genome, integrase, reverse transcriptase, RNA, transcription, translation

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.