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Why do viruses have high mutation rate?

Updated: 9/20/2023
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Unprotected DNA subject to environmental insults, such as UV light, all the time and no repair mechanisms when the DNA us replicated in host cells. Plus RNA viruses have a much less stable molecule to use as a genetic receptacle than DNA viruses.

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Q: Why do viruses have high mutation rate?
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Warts result when certain viruses cause skin cells to reproduce at a high rate This rapid reproduction of skin cells is due to the viruses stimulating?

Mitotic cell division<3


What causes mutation in plants?

Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of a cell's genome and are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic chemicals, as well as errors that occur during meiosis or DNA replication.They can also be induced by the organism itself, by cellular processes such as hypermutation.Mutation can result in several different types of change in DNA sequences; these can either have no effect, alter the product of a gene, or prevent the gene from functioning properly or completely. Studies in the fly Drosophila melanogaster suggest that if a mutation changes a protein produced by a gene, this will probably be harmful, with about 70 percent of these mutations having damaging effects, and the remainder being either neutral or weakly beneficial.Due to the damaging effects that mutations can have on cells, organisms have evolved mechanisms such as DNA repair to remove mutations.Therefore, the optimal mutation rate for a species is a trade-off between costs of a high mutation rate, such as deleterious mutations, and the metabolic costs of maintaining systems to reduce the mutation rate, such as DNA repair enzymes. Viruses that use RNA as their genetic material have rapid mutation rates,which can be an advantage since these viruses will evolve constantly and rapidly, and thus evade the defensive responses of e.g. the humanimmune system.


What environmental factors cause mutations?

Mutagens are chemical or physical factors that increase the rate of mutation. Some are natural, and some are synthetic. Some examples of mutagens are: - Cosmic rays - Some viruses - Harmful atomic radiation - Recreational drugs - Tobacco - Alcohol - Pesticides - Asbestos - Soot


Name two methods used by breeders to increase the rate of mutation?

Irradiation and chemical mutagens.


What is the term for any permanent change in a gene of chromosome?

The permanent change in a gene or a chromosome is called Mutation.

Related questions

Can viruses mutate to infect new species?

Yes, viruses can mutate to infect new species.


Evaluate the argument that emerging viruses are new viruses.?

Viral evolution is a subfield of evolutionary Biology that is specifically concerned with the evolution of viruses. Many viruses, in particular RNA viruses, have short generation times and relatively high mutation rates (on the order of one point mutation or more per genome per round of replication for RNA viruses). This elevated mutation rate, when combined with natural selection, allows viruses to quickly adapt to changes in their host environment. Viral evolution is an important aspect of the epidemiology of viral diseases such as influenza, HIV, and hepatitis. It also causes problems in the development of successful vaccines and antiviral drugs, as resistant mutations often appear within weeks or months after the beginning of the treatment


Evaluate the argument that emerging viruses are new viruses?

Viral evolution is a subfield of evolutionary biology that is specifically concerned with the evolution of viruses. Many viruses, in particular RNA viruses, have short generation times and relatively high mutation rates (on the order of one point mutation or more per genome per round of replication for RNA viruses). This elevated mutation rate, when combined with natural selection, allows viruses to quickly adapt to changes in their host environment. Viral evolution is an important aspect of the epidemiology of viral diseases such as influenza, HIV, and hepatitis. It also causes problems in the development of successful vaccines and antiviral drugs, as resistant mutations often appear within weeks or months after the beginning of the treatment


Do flu viruses have a high mutation rate?

Yes, viruses do mutate very easily. This is one reason the cure for the common cold is so elusive, before a vaccine can be created for the strain of rhinovirus or other virus that is causing the currently circulating common cold, the viruses will have often mutated to a new form making a vaccine ineffective.


Why are there so many immunological variants of HIV?

Probably because of its high mutation rate.


Why must pharmaceutical companies develop flu vaccines every year?

Influenza is an RNA virus. Being that it is an RNA virus it has a high rate of mutation that goes unchecked. This high rate of mutation leads to different strains of the influenza virus


What factors causing mutation?

Mutagens are chemical or physical factors that increase the rate of mutation. Some are natural, and some are synthetic. Some examples of mutagens are: - Cosmic rays - Some viruses - Harmful atomic radiation - Recreational drugs - Tobacco - Alcohol - Pesticides - Asbestos - Soot


How were neurospora spores treated to increase the mutation rate?

They were (and still can be) shot with X-rays. This heightens mutation rate is Neurospora spores.


What are the six traits of viruses?

Viruses have six traits that characterize them. They are: They can produce at a high rate, they can mutate, they are acellular, they have no metabolism, they either have DNA or RNA, and they are dependent on a host cell for replication.


Warts result when certain viruses cause skin cells to reproduce at a high rate This rapid reproduction of skin cells is due to the viruses stimulating?

Mitotic cell division<3


What is sequential mutation?

It's a double mutation that occurs on a colony of cells (bacteria for example) that claims to have resistance to two different antibiotics or viruses. This double mutation, however, strictly happens by first developing a mutation for the first antibiotic/virus and then has an independent mutation (nothing to do with the first mutation) for the other or second antibiotic/virus.


What are the chances of mutation?

Not high