Which one of the following statements is not true with reference to A…

The correct answer is Option (4) → Infected cell can not survive while viruses are being replicated and released.

Option (1) It is caused by retro viruses. — True of AIDS. HIV belongs to the retroviruses, which have an RNA genome copied into DNA by reverse transcriptase.

Option (2) There is always a time lag between the infection and the appearance of symptoms. — True of AIDS. The lag may be a few months to many years, usually 5–10 years.

Option (3) AIDS does not spread by shaking hands with an infected person. — True of AIDS. HIV/AIDS is not spread by mere touch or physical contact; it spreads through body fluids.

Option (4) Infected cell can not survive while viruses are being replicated and released. — Not true of AIDS. Infected macrophages are not killed; they go on producing virus and act like a HIV factory.

NCERT Extract:
AIDS – “… After getting into the body of the person, the virus enters into macrophages where RNA genome of the virus replicates to form viral DNA with the help of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. This viral DNA gets incorporated into host cell’s DNA and directs the infected cells to produce virus particles (Figure 7.6). The macrophages continue to produce virus and in this way acts like a HIV factory.”

Figure 7.6 Replication of retrovirus