Which of the following allows the AIDS virus, which contains RNA, to insert viral DNA into the DNA of a host T-cell after the AIDS virus enters the cell?
A. Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme encoded by the virus.
B. Receptor proteins located on the surface of the virus.
C. The phospholipids found on the envelope of the virus.
D. The protein that makes up the capsid of the virus.
Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme encoded by the virus. This enzyme can convert the viral RNA into DNA, which can then integrate into the host cell's genome and hijack its machinery to produce more viruses. The other options are not relevant to this process. Receptor proteins are involved in binding the virus to the cell membrane, but they do not insert viral DNA into the cell. The phospholipids and the protein capsid are structural components of the virus, but they do not have any enzymatic activity.
Therefore, the Correct Answer is A.
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