1. How does a mutation affect DNA and proteins? 2. How does a mutation in the nucleic acid of a virus occur and how can it change the ability of a virus to cause an infection?

1. How does a mutation affect DNA and proteins?

According to https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Missense-Mutation

" A missense mutation is a mistake in the DNA which results in the wrong amino acid being incorporated into a protein because of change, that single DNA sequence change, results in a different amino acid codon which the ribosome recognizes. Changes in amino acid can be very important in the function of a protein."

2. How does a mutation in the nucleic acid of a virus occur and how can it change the ability of a virus to cause an infection?

According to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8439/

" Genetic Change in Viruses. Viruses are continuously changing as a result of genetic selection. They undergo subtle genetic changes through mutation and major genetic changes through recombination. Mutation occurs when an error is incorporated in the viral genome."

Explanation:

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the principles and empirical processes of discovery and demonstration considered characteristic of or necessary for scientific investigation, generally involving the observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to test the hypothesis, and development of a conclusion that confirms, rejects, or modifies the hypothesis.