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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Coronavirus Is a Master of Mixing Its Genome, Worrying Scientists
In recent weeks, scientists have sounded the alarm about new variants of the coronavirus that carry a handful of tiny mutations, some of which seem to make vaccines less effective.
But it is not just these small genetic changes that are raising concerns. The novel coronavirus has a propensity to mix large chunks of its genome when it makes copies of itself. Unlike small mutations, which are like typos in the sequence, a phenomenon called recombination resembles a major copy-and-paste error in which the second half of a sentence is completely overwritten with a slightly different version.
A flurry of new studies suggests that recombination may allow the virus to shapeshift in dangerous ways. But in the long term, this biological machinery may offer a silver lining, helping researchers find drugs to stop the virus in its tracks.
Theres no question that recombination is happening, said Nels Elde, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Utah. And in fact, its probably a bit underappreciated and could be at play even in the emergence of some of the new variants of concern.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-coronavirus-is-a-master-of-mixing-its-genome-worrying-scientists/ar-BB1dqKAv
PJMcK
(21,998 posts)Just when we're getting vaccinated.
Ain't we lucky?
Aviation Pro
(12,131 posts)That would be par for the course.
clementine613
(561 posts)They allow this virus to go public and now it's too smart to stop. Thanks again, Rethugs.
Irish_Dem
(46,575 posts)This is their pattern over and over.
Not a bug, but a feature.
LastDemocratInSC
(3,646 posts)roamer65
(36,744 posts)Really sort of midway in between influenza and measles.
The problem is the criminal misconduct of the Dump cabal in regards to the pandemic.