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Yes, viruses can mutate to infect new species.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoYes, they can. They are mostly unstable and when they replicate they make mistakes. The HIV is one that has a high mutation rate.
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Do viruses replicate in cells of organisms?
Yes. This is the reason that viruses infect cells. The virus injects its genetic material, either DNA or RNA, which then takes over the cell's activities and turns the cell into a virus factory, causing the cell to make new virus parts and assemble them. Eventually the cell ruptures and the new viruses are free to infect other cells.
Where did viruses come form?
Answer -------Tracing the origins of viruses is difficult because they don't leave fossils and because of the tricks they use to make copies of themselves within the cells they've invaded. Some viruses even have the ability to stitch their own genes into those of the cells they infect, which means studying their ancestry requires untangling it from the history of their hosts and other organisms. What makes the process even more complicated is that viruses don't just infect humans; they can infect basically any organism-from bacteria to horses; seaweed to people.Still, scientists have been able to piece together some viral histories, based on the fact that the genes of many viruses-such as those that cause herpes and mono-seem to share some properties with cells' own genes. This could suggest that they started as big bits of cellular DNA and then became independent-or that these viruses came along very early in evolution, and some of their DNA stuck around in cells' genomes. The fact that some viruses that infect humans share structural features with viruses that infect bacteria could mean that all of these viruses have a common origin, dating back several billion years. This highlights another problem with tracing virus origins: most modern viruses seem to be a patchwork of bits that come from different sources-a sort of "mix and match" approach to building an organism.The fact that viruses like the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as the distantly related viruses that cause measles and rabies, are only found in a limited number of species suggests that those viruses are relatively new-after all, those organisms came along somewhat recently in evolutionary time. Many of these "new" viruses likely originated in insects many million years ago and at some point in evolution developed the ability to infect other species-probably as insects interacted with or fed from them.
Can viruses cause mutations?
It is not believed so, but viruses are able to infect cells and replace the cell's DNA "instructions" with the virus' DNA or RNA instructions. This is how they reproduce using a host's cells to do the work. There is some thought in the scientific research areas that one day we may be able to do gene therapy using viruses to implant the correction into the target cell types, but not yet. Viruses themselves can mutate into new forms, however, and this may be what you are thinking of. The viruses are able to change the proteins in their capsid (coat) and make new viruses through this mutation that no longer get attacked by our immune systems. Our bodies no longer recognize them as the same with the different protein composition and our immune defenses that were developed against the original version of the virus won't work any more until our bodies develop new antibodies for the mutated strain of virus.
What is viral emergence?
A virus that has suddenly appeared or has recently come to the attention of medical scientists.
What statements explains why viruses are able to respond only inside host cells instead of being able to reproduce on their own?
Viruses do not have the machinery required to synthesise proteins or replicate themselves, they need a host cell to do it for them. They infect a cell by inserting their own DNA or RNA and essentially hijack the host cell, tricking it into producing many copies new of the virus that can then go on to infect more host cells.
Do viruses evolve?
Yes, viruses evolve over time. They will usually mutate into a stronger virus. When viruses face something new that could stop them, they usually mutate.
Why can isolation cause differences in species and possibly lead to new species?
Their genes might mutate in different directions, so once their genes do not match up, a new species will be made.
Why isolation cause differences in species and possibly lead to new species?
Their genes might mutate in different directions, so once their genes do not match up, a new species will be made.
how are new viruses produced How might this process cause harm to the infected cell?
All viruses kill they cells that they infect. If not right away then later.
Do viruses replicate in cells of organisms?
Yes. This is the reason that viruses infect cells. The virus injects its genetic material, either DNA or RNA, which then takes over the cell's activities and turns the cell into a virus factory, causing the cell to make new virus parts and assemble them. Eventually the cell ruptures and the new viruses are free to infect other cells.
How many viruses exist in the world?
The exact number of how many viruses exist in the world is not known because there have been some that have yet to be discovered. Also, many known viruses are also able to mutate into brand new viruses. This makes it next to impossible to get an exact count.
How does the common cold spread in the human body?
The Lytic Cycle describes the process. This is the mechanism by which viruses infect a host, take over the function of the cells, and use them to replicate millions of new viruses in your body. The word lytic is used since the infected host cells are lysed (split open), and killed in the process, as the new virus particles mature and are ready for release in the body. Common cold viruses infect the cells of the mucous tissue in humans, mostly that of the respiratory system. However, cold viruses also infect the tissues in the eyes, mouth and the rest of the gastrointestinal system with mucous tissue.
Where did viruses come form?
Answer -------Tracing the origins of viruses is difficult because they don't leave fossils and because of the tricks they use to make copies of themselves within the cells they've invaded. Some viruses even have the ability to stitch their own genes into those of the cells they infect, which means studying their ancestry requires untangling it from the history of their hosts and other organisms. What makes the process even more complicated is that viruses don't just infect humans; they can infect basically any organism-from bacteria to horses; seaweed to people.Still, scientists have been able to piece together some viral histories, based on the fact that the genes of many viruses-such as those that cause herpes and mono-seem to share some properties with cells' own genes. This could suggest that they started as big bits of cellular DNA and then became independent-or that these viruses came along very early in evolution, and some of their DNA stuck around in cells' genomes. The fact that some viruses that infect humans share structural features with viruses that infect bacteria could mean that all of these viruses have a common origin, dating back several billion years. This highlights another problem with tracing virus origins: most modern viruses seem to be a patchwork of bits that come from different sources-a sort of "mix and match" approach to building an organism.The fact that viruses like the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as the distantly related viruses that cause measles and rabies, are only found in a limited number of species suggests that those viruses are relatively new-after all, those organisms came along somewhat recently in evolutionary time. Many of these "new" viruses likely originated in insects many million years ago and at some point in evolution developed the ability to infect other species-probably as insects interacted with or fed from them.
How are viruses like non living things?
Viruses are not alive. They are infectious particles. They hijack a living cell's DNA and force it to make viruses parts instead of living cell parts. The cell is made to assemble to parts and the new viruses bust out of the cell, killing it, and infect more cells.
How the defensive viruses grow?
Defensive or drug resistant viruses grow by mutation. Viruses are exposed to many cellular factors during the replication of viruses, some of the factors can do actually mutate the viral genomes. Viruses take advantage of these factors to form as a genetically modified (new) virus that may not be cured by a particular drug since the virus has evolved to escape from the effect caused by the drug!
Can viruses cause mutations?
It is not believed so, but viruses are able to infect cells and replace the cell's DNA "instructions" with the virus' DNA or RNA instructions. This is how they reproduce using a host's cells to do the work. There is some thought in the scientific research areas that one day we may be able to do gene therapy using viruses to implant the correction into the target cell types, but not yet. Viruses themselves can mutate into new forms, however, and this may be what you are thinking of. The viruses are able to change the proteins in their capsid (coat) and make new viruses through this mutation that no longer get attacked by our immune systems. Our bodies no longer recognize them as the same with the different protein composition and our immune defenses that were developed against the original version of the virus won't work any more until our bodies develop new antibodies for the mutated strain of virus.
How harsh is the strand B flu?
The illness is usually much less severe than Type A flu viruses. The Type B influenzavirus mutates at a slower rate (2-3X less) than Type A influenzavirus, so immunity is better achieved, although they mutate often enough to make Type B viruses a part of each seasonal flu vaccine. Type B flu viruses only infect humans, seals, and ferrets. This makes it less available for contamination of new hosts. All pandemics have been due to Type A influenzaviruses.
