What allows the AIDS virus, which contains RNA, to insert viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell?

The ability of the AIDS virus, which is an RNA virus, to insert its viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell is primarily facilitated by reverse transcriptase. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the life cycle of retroviruses such as HIV. Reverse transcriptase catalyzes the conversion of the viral RNA genome into complementary DNA (cDNA). Once the RNA is reverse transcribed into DNA, this cDNA can then integrate into the host's DNA, allowing the virus to hijack the host's cellular machinery for replication.

The process is vital for the virus’s ability to replicate and propagate within the host organism, enabling the virus to persist and evade the immune system. The integration of viral DNA into the host DNA means that when the host cell divides, it will also replicate the viral DNA, leading to new virions being produced.

Other options do not facilitate this specific integration process. RNA polymerase is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template but does not have a role in the integration of viral DNA. DNA ligase is an enzyme that joins together DNA strands, but it does not perform the function of reverse transcription. Protease is involved in cleaving proteins for the maturation of viral particles but does not assist in the integration of