Reverse transcriptase (RT) component of antiviral defense system retron Eco8, composed of this RT, the following endonuclease and a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) encoded between them. Expression of retron Eco8 confers protection against bacteriophages T4, T6, T7 and SECphi4, SECphi6 and SECphi18. At multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.02 cultures slow growth when infected with SECphi4 but do not collapse, at MOI 2 cultures collapse. Responsible for synthesis of msDNA (a branched molecule with RNA linked by a 2',5'-phosphodiester bond to ssDNA). The retron transcript serves as primer (from a conserved internal G residue) and template for the reaction, and codes for the RT. a 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate + DNA(n) = diphosphate + DNA(n+1) Belongs to the bacterial reverse transcriptase family.