A speed-fidelity trade-off determines the mutation rate and virulence of an RNA virus
W. Fitzsimmons, R. J. Woods, J. T. McCrone, A. Woodman, J. J. Arnold, M. Yennawar, R. Evans, C. E. Cameron, A. S. Lauring
This study shows that RNA viruses evolve high mutation rates as a byproduct of selection for faster replication, not because of adaptive advantages.
bioRxiv · Apr 27, 2018Microbiology