Reverse Transcriptase

Discovery that retroviruses (e.g. Rous sarcoma virus) carry an enzyme that copies their RNA genome into DNA, reversing the normal DNA-to-RNA flow of the "central dogma," so the virus can integrate into a host cell's genome. Independently and simultaneously reported in the same June 1970 issue of Nature by Temin & Mizutani, "RNA-dependent DNA polymerase in virions of Rous sarcoma virus" (1970-06-27, OpenAlex W201050536, 2096 citations) and by Baltimore, "RNA-dependent DNA polymerase in virions of RNA tumour viruses" (1970-06, OpenAlex W2013241878, 2040 citations) -- a genuine dual co-discovery, same shape as this platform's existing Higgs/Weyl-Semimetal dual-origin nodes. Temin and Baltimore shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (with Renato Dulbecco). Directly enabled cDNA cloning and RT-PCR/RT-qPCR (the same diagnostic technique later used for COVID-19 testing) and underlies modern understanding of HIV replication and the antiretroviral drug class.