When I talk about the HIV to beginning biology students it is sometimes easier to say that the reverse transcriptase is unique to HIV.  However it is true that I am not presently expressing a human reverse transcriptase.

a) What enzymatic activity does a reverse transcriptase perform? 

b) State the name of the human reverse transcriptase?

c) Where on chromosomes does it function?

d) Why is it essential?

e) Why am I hoping I’m not currently expressing it?