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Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

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A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
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Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

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A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
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Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

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Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
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Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

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Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
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The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

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The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection in K18 hACE2 Transgenic Mice Using Reporter-Expressing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2
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Origin, evolution and global spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Anna Zhukova1,2,3, Luc Blassel2,3, Frédéric Lemoine1,2,3

  • 1Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.

Comptes Rendus Biologies
|December 4, 2020
PubMed
Summary

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily mutates via neutral point mutations. Some mutations, like Spike protein D614G, affect infectivity, influencing the virus

Keywords:
COVID19ClustersEvolutionOriginSARS-CoV-2Transmission

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Genomics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The virus was first detected in China in December 2019.
  • Understanding viral evolution and spread is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the origin and genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2.
  • To summarize controversies surrounding the virus's worldwide spread.
  • To propose a novel analytical approach for studying viral dissemination.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2 origin and evolution.
  • Analysis of viral genomic mutation patterns (point mutations, insertions, deletions).
  • Comparative analysis of viral spread patterns using a new methodology.

Main Results:

  • Viral genome primarily evolves through neutral point mutations, with some affecting infectivity (e.g., Spike D614G).
  • No viral recombination documented in human hosts; insertions/deletions are rare.
  • Complex global spread patterns observed, including multiple introductions to the USA and subsequent international transmissions.

Conclusions:

  • SARS-CoV-2 evolution is characterized by specific mutations impacting infectivity.
  • The virus's global dissemination is intricate, involving numerous introductions and re-introductions.
  • A new analytical framework offers improved insights into viral spread dynamics.