Saturday, February 16, 2013

Why are DNA viruses easier to manage than RNA viruses?

DNA viruses are easier to manage than the RNA viruses primarily because of the differences in their mutation rates. The mutation rate of RNA is much higher than that of DNA. To put things in perspective, the genome of any typical RNA virus mutates about once every 50,000 base pairs per infection. In comparison, the DNA virus genome mutates about once every 50,000,000 (50 million) base pairs per infection. This means that the RNA virus mutates almost 1000 times more (per infection) as compared to the DNA virus.
The higher mutation rate of the RNA virus means that it will mutate rapidly and adapt to the applied treatment at a much faster rate ensuring that its treatment becomes difficult. DNA virus, on the other hand, would be easier to treat due to lower mutation and adaptation rate.
Hope this helps.

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