Variation in virus progeny

[Bruce Phillips]

	If recombination, or even reassortment, were such a fantastically
efficient method for generating diversity in progeny viruses, on might
predict that influenza viruses (recombination freq. approximateing 50%)
would lead to persistent infections and much greater diversity than they do.
	I think it is agreed that HIV, by generating several mutations per
genome replicated, via its sloppy reverse transcriptase, is capable of
a quicker formation of diversity in genomic makeup than practically any
other virus.  I'm am not aware that genome recombination is the primary
mechanism for the antigenic diversity of these viruses.