Why is there no universal phylogenetic tree joining all viruses, like those that exist for other organisms?
A) Because viruses are not organisms
B) Many viruses remain uncharacterised, meaning not enough data has been collated to produce such a tree
C) Because the diseases they cause are so varied, they are difficult to classify
D) There is no single gene shared by all viruses
E) Many viruses do not have dsDNA genomes, therefore very few have true genes from which to build a phylogenetic tree

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Viruses lack a single gene common to all of them, which is essential for constructing a universal phylogenetic tree. Unlike cellular organisms that share ribosomal RNA genes allowing for phylogenetic analysis, viruses are too diverse in their genetic material for such a universal marker.

Why Is There No Universal Phylogenetic Tree Joining All Viruses