Definition of retrovirus
: any of a family (Retroviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that produce reverse transcriptase by means of which DNA is produced using their RNA as a template and incorporated into the genome of infected cells, that are often tumorigenic, and that include the lentiviruses (such as the HIVs) and the causative agent of Rous sarcoma
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Recent Examples of retrovirus from the Web
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HIV belongs to a group of retroviruses called the lentiviruses.
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Origin and Etymology of retrovirus
New Latin
First Known Use: 1975
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about retrovirus
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about retrovirus
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