Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to re: I'm not a member yet.

Shorter cycle of mutation in viruses than larger animals.

The flu virus mutates on annual cycles or less. Maybe DNA has the capacity to utilize short-term mutations in viruses to accelerate evolution in larger animals, by incorporating multiple copies of rapidly mutating viral RNA into itself. If not for short-term flexibility, maybe large animals would never have evolved in the first place, being wiped out by the slightest change in the environment.

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (30 posts)