>(a) does the retrovirus insert itself at a specific location within the
>genome or is it randomly recombined?
>From what I understand the cDNA is randomly inserted.
>(b) as the DNA sequence of the virus is known why is it that we cannot
>synthesize an enzyme that will "look" for that particular sequence and then
>excise it from the genome?
Such an enzyme would likely not be taken up in any large amount by infected
cells. Perhaps directed gene therapy could be used using an HIV-hybrid
vector so that cells with the CD4 receptor would be targeted; I'm not sure
if protein engineering has advanced to the point that such a specific DNAse
could be designed, but who knows what the future might hold?
