the retrovirus HIV – the cause of AIDS. One of the interestingaspects of the disease was that in the first few years afterinitial infection, the Genetic divergence between HIV virions wasextremely large (a maximum of ~8%). However, at about 6 years postinfection, the Genetic divergence between the HIV virions wasreduced to less than 0.5%.
A) In terms of the Evolution of the virus,please explain these findings.
As you know, HIV is normally lethal – although the timeframe tolethality can very greatly among affected individuals.
B) Given that the virus is lethal, explain whyit doesn’t evolve to have a lower, or reduced, rate ofmortality.
If Evolution is going to occur in a population, there must be 3characteristics found in the population.
C) What are these characteristics and why arethey important to the process of Evolution.
