Brooke Nichols

Inserted 3 years ago

“Mutations occur much more frequently with RNA viruses because the RNA has no 'proofreading' capacity and, as such, cannot correct the mistakes that are made during viral replication. This can then become problematic when the virus then selects for mutations that allows for the virus to replicate more efficiently. For example, if a person has been previously infected, then the virus may select for mutations that can evade that previous immunity, or select for mutations that allow for the virus to be more transmissible. The variants do not appear to make the coronavirus disease more deadly. The variants do, however, make the virus more transmissible. This could mean that more people can become infected more rapidly - and thus still overburdening healthcare systems.”

Aljazeera

Assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health