• Question: Do all viruses change?

    Asked by NerdyBirdy to Carmen, Daniel, Laura, Noel, Steph on 18 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Stephanie Dyson

      Stephanie Dyson answered on 18 Mar 2015:

      No. Some viruses are RNA viruses meaning that their genetic material is encoded in RNA, not DNA. DNA is a more stable molecule than RNA, and DNA viruses have a proofreading check as part of their reproductive process. If the virus makes a mistake in copying the DNA, then we can often correct the mistake. DNA viruses, therefore, do not change, or mutate, much. RNA, however, is an unstable molecule, and RNA viruses don’t have a built-in proofreading step in their replication. Mistakes in copying RNA happen frequently, and the host cell does not correct these mistakes. RNA virus mutations are frequent and can have important consequences for their hosts.

      Steph

    • Photo: Carmen Denman

      Carmen Denman answered on 19 Mar 2015:

      Hello,
      I reckon in all living things change is a constant event. Now, virus aren’t technically alive so that is where it gets tricky! However, they are smart and adapt quickly to their environments, if they don’t they will die. Virus can jump species barriers, use intermediate hosts to elongate its lifes cycle complexity, and lurk undetected in our immune cells for any given period of times. Virology is a fascinating field!
      Virus do evolve slower than bacteria though.
      Cheers,
      Carmen

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