COVID-19: Why Do Viruses Mutate?

Coronavirus COVID-19

Coronavirus has mutated into three variants since it was first discovered last year – first detected in South Africa, Brazil, and the UK.

Coronavirus Covid-19
The UK strain, found in Kent, is causing particular concern as there are fears the infectious strain could be resistant to some vaccines.

The UK government is keen to limit the spread of the South African mutation, too, and has launched a door-to-door testing service to record its prevalence.

But this isn’t unique to Covid-19 – why do viruses mutate?
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Why do viruses mutate? Like humans and animals, when viruses reproduce, ‘copying errors’ or genetic mutations appear.

These changes can affect parts of the virus, whether that’s a difference in the surface shape or protein make up.

Changes that put the virus at an evolutionary advantage – for example, ones that make it more infectious or better at evading the human immune system – will likely be reproduced again.

Coronavirus Edo
The mutation rate of Covid-19 is thought to be quite slow, despite the new strains being detected. Seasonal flu tends to mutate every year (which is why there are annual vaccinations).

Mutations are found through genome processing. This is a technique that allows scientists to monitor the tiny changes within viruses through sequencing. Most mutations are so small they don’t really make a difference to the virus, and can sometimes make them less infectious.

Through genome processing via coronavirus swabs, scientists were able to detect the changes that identified the South African strain.Coronavirus COVID-19Photo Credit: Getty

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