It is now known that the new type of coronavirus accumulates mutations at almost the same rate
In a new study, biologists ledProfessor Dominik Kwiatkowski from the Sanger Institute carefully studied how mutations accumulate in the coronavirus genome. Researchers were able to decipher the RNA structure of several thousand SARS-CoV-2 particles and compare them with each other. Scientists observed how the new type of coronavirus changes during transmission from person to person, and also found out whether it changes during the development of infection in the body of one individual.
The analysis showed that the virus mutates from about onethe same speed as with «external» transmission, and in the human body. Scientists have also found that mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome for the most part do not arise due to random errors during its copying. This is typical for most known viruses. When it comes to a new type of coronavirus, the accumulation of mutations occurs as a result of damage or incorrect editing of a ready-made copy of the RNA of the virus.
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