Viruses with which type of genetic material would be expected to have a higher mutation rate?

• A. Single-stranded DNA genomes
• B. Double-stranded DNA genomes
• C. Single-stranded RNA genomes
• D. Double-stranded RNA genomes

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that mutation rate in viruses is influenced by the type of genetic material and the replication mechanisms involved.
2. Recall that RNA viruses generally have higher mutation rates than DNA viruses because RNA-dependent RNA polymerases lack proofreading ability, leading to more errors during replication.
3. Recognize that single-stranded genomes (both DNA and RNA) are more prone to mutations than double-stranded genomes due to less structural stability and repair mechanisms.
4. Compare the options: single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, single-stranded RNA, and double-stranded RNA genomes, focusing on the replication fidelity and repair capabilities.
5. Conclude that single-stranded RNA genomes have the highest mutation rate because they combine the high error rate of RNA replication with the vulnerability of single-stranded structure.