Question

The virus that causes mumps in humans is composed of a protein outer shell containing a core of DNA. The virus that causes the flu in humans is composed of a protein outer shell containing a core of RNA. Vaccines that are effective against mumps work efficiently year after year. Vaccines that work against the flu must be revised and changed every year. What accounts for the difference in the effectiveness of these two vaccines? A) RNA based viruses are more efficient at infecting many people. B) DNA mutates more rapidly than RNA and so causes a more deadly virus. C) DNA based viruses are more easily defeated by the human body since our own cells are made of DNA. D) RNA mutates more rapidly than DNA causing change in the viruses,so vaccines have to be updated regularly.

Answer 1

I believe the correct answer to the question is D. This answer choice makes the most sense given the context. Also, since RNA is less stable than DNA, it mutates more often.

Answer 2

The correct answer will be option-D.

Step-by-step explanation:

A virus is the infectious particles which consist of an outer shell made up of capsid proteins which enclose the genetic material of the virus which could be DNA or RNA.

Both DNA and RNA virus are pathogenic and certain antiviral vaccines which control the spread of disease. The target of these vaccines is the genetic material as they act by disturbing the enzyme complexes of replication, transcription and translation.

The vaccines need to be revised for the flu virus as the virus contains RNA as their genetic material which has the ability to mutate very easily as they were evolved during the time when the environment was unstable.

Thus, option-D is the correct answer.