Question

Using Myxoma, HIV and influenza as examples provide three reasons why viruses are able to undergo rapid evolution? Use a different virus as an example for each of the three mechanisms and be clear why each of the viruses were chosen to explain that particular mechanism.

Answer 1

Question:

i. Myxoma virus: The best way of evolution in myxoma is, evolution mutually with its host. After infection with myxoma virus, host start evolve to make itself resistance. Then in response, virus evolved to infect its host which resulted in evolution within host and between host.

ii. HIV: HIV is very rapidly evolving virus. They have error prone RNA polymerase for replication of its genetic material which result in rapid mutation which help in evolution of virus.

iii. Influenza: Influenza virus have lack of proof reading which resulted in mutation. Proof reading is process of checking and repairing mismatch during replication. Lack of proof reading resulted in evolution of inflenza virus.