Which statement about the mutation rates of most viruses is true?
A) They are rapid, which makes evolutionary relationships difficult to trace.
B) They are slow because viruses are relatively primitive microbes.
C) The rates decrease as temperatures increase.
D) They are affected by lateral gene transfer.
E) None of the above; viruses do not mutate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Most viruses have high mutation rates, which can make it difficult to trace evolutionary relationships. This is because mutations can accumulate quickly over short periods of time, leading to significant genetic divergence between closely related viruses.

Answer: None of the above
 The statement "viruses do not mutate" is false. All viruses, like all living organisms, can undergo mutations as a result of errors that occur during DNA replication, exposure to mutagens, or other factors. The other statements in the answer choices are incorrect or incomplete. For example, the statement that virus mutation rates are slow because viruses are relatively primitive microbes is false - in fact, some viruses (such as HIV) have some of the highest mutation rates of any known organism or pathogen. The statement about the effects of temperature and lateral gene transfer on virus mutation rates may or may not be true for specific viruses or under specific conditions, but it is too general to be considered an accurate statement about most viruses.

Which Statement About the Mutation Rates of Most Viruses Is