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Which organisms have the highest recorded mutation rates?

1) fungi
2) viruses
3) mammals
4) fish
5) flowering plants

User Eabates
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Viruses have the highest recorded mutation rates among all organisms due to their lack of proofreading mechanisms, which results in rapid evolution and adaptation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The organisms that have the highest recorded mutation rates are viruses. Viruses, particularly RNA viruses like HIV and influenza, have high mutation rates due to their lack of proofreading mechanisms during replication. This high level of mutation is a key factor in the rapid evolution of viruses and their ability to adapt to new environments and hosts. In contrast, while fungi, such as yeast, can be subjected to mutagenesis in experimental settings with UV-C radiation and other environmental factors, they do not naturally exhibit mutation rates as high as viruses do. Other organisms listed, mammals, fish, and flowering plants, generally have lower mutation rates compared to viruses.

User Jesse Hogan
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