Sentry Page Protection
Please Wait...
COVID-19 Q6
Why did COVID-19 mutate?
Excellent Candidate Approach
Viruses that encode their genome in RNA - like SARS-CoV-2, or HIV, mutate quicker than viruses that encode using DNA. This is due to higher error rates in the replication of RNA, through errors made by replication enzymes. However, coronaviruses actually appear to mutate slower than most other RNA viruses, due to a proofreading enzyme. Nonetheless, a typical SARS-CoV-2 virus will acquire two single letter mutations per month. Of course, mutations that make the virus more transmissible will be more successful - creating a cycle of sorts in which the most transmissible virus types will succeed and spread with increasing ease.
Viruses that encode their genome in RNA - like SARS-CoV-2, or HIV, mutate quicker than viruses that encode using DNA. This is due to higher error rates in the replication of RNA, through errors made by replication enzymes. However, coronaviruses actually appear to mutate slower than most other RNA viruses, due to a proofreading enzyme. Nonetheless, a typical SARS-CoV-2 virus will acquire two single letter mutations per month. Of course, mutations that make the virus more transmissible will be more successful - creating a cycle of sorts in which the most transmissible virus types will succeed and spread with increasing ease.