Understand COVID-19: Novel Coronavirus Mutations And Variants

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists knew it was a matter of time before new variants of the novel coronavirus, SARS-Cov-2, began to emerge in our communities. For a virus that mutates relatively slowly – picking up an average of two to three new mutations a month – how quickly these distinct variants took root would depend on how well we stopped the spread of the virus. Viruses rely on our cellular equipment to reproduce; mutations can only continue if it keeps infecting people. This particular virus gains access to our cells using its “corona” – a layer of protein spikes that fit into our cellular receptors like a lock and key.

Source: Yale School of Medicine
Length: 04:40
Country: United States
Language: English
Date: 19.02.2021