Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.

Question

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 15, Problem 1TC

Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Students have asked these similar questions

Alleles at the P locus control seed color. Plants which are pp have white seeds, white flowers and no pigment in vegetative parts. Plants which are P_ have black seeds, purple flowers and may have varying degrees of pigment on stems and leaves. Seed color can be assessed, visually, based on if the seed is white or not white A gene for mold resistance has been reported and we want to determine its inheritance and whether it is linked to P. For the purposes of this exercise, we will assume that resistance is controlled by a single locus M, and M_ plants are resistant and mm plants are susceptible. Resistance can be measured, under greenhouse conditions, 2 weeks after planting, by injecting each seedling with a spore suspension. After two weeks, the seedlings can be rated as resistant or susceptible, based on whether or not tissue is actively sporulating. For this exercise we will use seed and data from the F10 generation of a recombinant inbred population produced using single seed…

Linkage in common bean Alleles at the P locus control seed color. Plants which are pp have white seeds, white flowers and no pigment in vegetative parts. Plants which are P_ have black seeds, purple flowers and may have varying degrees of pigment on stems and leaves. Seed color can be assessed, visually, based on if the seed is white or not white A gene for mold resistance has been reported and we want to determine its inheritance and whether it is linked to P. For the purposes of this exercise, we will assume that resistance is controlled by a single locus M, and M_ plants are resistant and mm plants are susceptible. Resistance can be measured, under greenhouse conditions, 2 weeks after planting, by injecting each seedling with a spore suspension. After two weeks, the seedlings can be rated as resistant or susceptible, based on whether or not tissue is actively sporulating. For this exercise we will use seed and data from the F10 generation of a recombinant inbred population…

Alleles at the P locus control seed color. Plants which are pp have white seeds, white flowers and no pigment in vegetative parts. Plants which are P_ have black seeds, purple flowers and may have varying degrees of pigment on stems and leaves. Seed color can be assessed, visually, based on if the seed is white or not white A gene for mold resistance has been reported and we want to determine its inheritance and whether it is linked to P. For the purposes of this exercise, we will assume that resistance is controlled by a single locus M, and M_ plants are resistant and mm plants are susceptible. Resistance can be measured, under greenhouse conditions, 2 weeks after planting, by injecting each seedling with a spore suspension. After two weeks, the seedlings can be rated as resistant or susceptible, based on whether or not tissue is actively sporulating. For this exercise we will use seed and data from the F10 generation of a recombinant inbred population produced using single seed…

Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 15, Problem 1TC

Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 15, Problem 1TC

Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 15, Problem 1TC

Mutations occur at random and can increase within a population for no particular purpose. Our immune system is capable of detecting and killing certain viruses. Would a virus, such as HIV, that has a frequent rate of mutation be more or less successful in avoiding the immune system? Explain.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.

Conclusion

High rates of mutation are helpful for HIV virus in avoiding the immune system of the host.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Whether a virus (such as HIV) having a frequent mutation rate would be more successful or less successful in avoiding the immune system.

Introduction:

HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) virus is known to cause AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in humans. This disease weakens the immune system of the body and it makes it prone to other life-threatening and opportunistic infections. HIV is a retrovirus having RNA (ribonucleic acid) as its genetic material.

Answer 12

Explanation of Solution

The mutation rate of HIV virus is one million times faster than that of human genome. It generates diversity among the viral population. This high mutation rate of HIV virus facilitates its survival in the host. The host environment is very complex for the virus as it has limited target cell availability, antiviral immune response, and the host also takes anti-retroviral therapies. Even then, the frequent mutation rate of virus allows it to survive in the host body. Thus, it makes the virus more successful in avoiding the immune system.