The HIV genome's reliably high rate of change permits it to serve as a molecular clock. Which of these features is most responsible for this genome's high rate of change?
A)the relatively low number of nucleotides in the genome
B)the relatively small number of genes in the genome
C)the genome's ability to insert itself into the genome of the host
D)the lack of proofreading by the enzyme that converts HIV's RNA genome into a DNA genome

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lack of proofreading by the enzyme that converts HIV's RNA genome into a DNA genome leads to a high rate of mutations and changes in the genome. This is because the enzyme, reverse transcriptase, makes frequent errors during the conversion process, resulting in a high rate of genetic variation in the viral population.

The HIV Genome's Reliably High Rate of Change Permits It