How quickly do viruses mutate inside the human body? Understanding viral mutation rates and the factors influencing them during an infection.
Context The user is curious about the speed at which viruses evolve within a single infected individual. They are interested in knowing whether the mutation process happens rapidly (hours, days) or over a longer period (weeks). They specifically ask whether the type of virus (RNA vs. DNA) affects the rate of mutation. The user also distinguishes between mutation during transmission and mutation within an individual, expressing interest in the latter. They seek insights into the general mechanisms and factors influencing mutation rate during viral infection. Simple Answer Viruses change all the time, kind of like how words get changed when you whisper them down a line. Some viruses, especially RNA viruses, change super fast because they don't have good 'spell checkers'. The type of virus matters a lot; RNA viruses are much quicker to mutate than DNA viruses. This changing happens inside you while you're sick, not just when the virus moves from person to person. Lots of t...