COVID-19

Coronavirus: How scientists track new variants of the virus

Thousands of genomic sequences have been identified from the original strain of the novel coronavirus, including variants of concern in the U.K. and Africa.

Depending on the rate of transmission and efforts to curb infections, new variants will either die out or dominate.

When it comes to coronaviruses, a normal rate of change would be two mutations per genome per month. Changes outside of the typical rate catch the eye of researchers and scientists because depending on where on the genetic sequence the changes occurred, they could play a role in how the virus operates.

Crystal Goomansingh explains how researchers are tracking the virus as it evolves.

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