CLINICAL MEDICINE

Detailed explanation-1: -As a virus replicates, its genes undergo random “copying errors” (i.e. genetic mutations). Over time, these genetic copying errors can, among other changes to the virus, lead to alterations in the virus’ surface proteins or antigens.

Detailed explanation-2: -Is it possible to prevent a virus from mutating? Well, you can’t prevent the virus from mutating, but what you can do is limit the virus’s spread, and in that way you reduce the chances that a mutation can emerge that is going to help the virus infect humans better.

Detailed explanation-3: -RNA viruses are characterized by high mutation rates compared with most DNA systems (1), due mainly to the lack of exonuclease proofreading activity displayed by their RNA polymerases (2).

Detailed explanation-4: -Virus mutation happens quickly over weeks to months due to the high number of viruses and infected people.