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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsScientists concerned that coronavirus is adapting to humans
Scientists have found evidence for mutations in some strains of the coronavirus that suggest the pathogen may be adapting to humans after spilling over from bats.
The analysis of more than 5,300 coronavirus genomes from 62 countries shows that while the virus is fairly stable, some have gained mutations, including two genetic changes that alter the critical spike protein the virus uses to infect human cells.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine stress that it is unclear how the mutations affects the virus, but since the changes arose independently in different countries they may help the virus spread more easily.
The spike mutations are rare at the moment but Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious diseases and a senior author on the study, said their emergence highlights the need for global surveillance of the virus so that more worrying changes are picked up fast.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-concerned-that-coronavirus-is-adapting-to-humans/ar-BB13SRaO?li=BBnb7Kz
GriffenRamsey
(181 posts)The kids and I are going to hide under our beds.
Vinnie From Indy
(10,820 posts)This should not come as a shock to anyone.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,652 posts)Wasn't this in our high school biology text books?
ProfessorGAC
(64,852 posts)...I subbed two days for 7th grade science.
The subject: viruses!
GeorgeGist
(25,311 posts)It would be more suspect if it didn't mutate.