Why do RNA viruses appear to have higher rates of mutation?
A) RNA nucleotides are more unstable than DNA nucleotides.
B) Replication of their genomes does not involve proofreading.
C) RNA viruses replicate faster.
D) RNA viruses can incorporate a variety of nonstandard bases.
E) RNA viruses are more sensitive to mutagens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

RNA viruses replicate through RNA-dependent RNA polymerases that lack proofreading mechanisms, which leads to higher rates of errors and mutations during replication.

Answer: C
 RNA viruses have a faster replication rate compared to DNA viruses, which increases the chances of errors and mutations during genome replication.

Answer: A
 RNA nucleotides are less stable than DNA nucleotides because RNA is single-stranded and lacks the protection of a double-helix structure, which can lead to higher rates of spontaneous mutations.

Therefore, the best choices are B and C.

Why Do RNA Viruses Appear to Have Higher Rates of Mutation