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Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

36.8K
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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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs01:05

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs

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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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Mutations in Microorganisms01:18

Mutations in Microorganisms

228
Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
228
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

60.6K
In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
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Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

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Mutation Rates and Selection on Synonymous Mutations in SARS-CoV-2.

Nicola De Maio1, Conor R Walker1,2, Yatish Turakhia3,4

  • 1European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|April 25, 2021
PubMed
Summary

The SARS-CoV-2 virus shows elevated G→U and C→U mutation rates, possibly due to APOBEC and ROS activity. Analysis of over 140,000 genomes reveals these mutations are frequent and homoplasic, impacting viral evolution and vaccine design.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2mutationselectionsequencingviral genomics

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic spurred extensive SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing.
  • Understanding viral mutation and selection is crucial for vaccine development and disease tracking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze mutation rates and selective pressures in SARS-CoV-2 using extensive genomic data.
  • To identify and address common pitfalls in viral genome sequence analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of over 140,000 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences.
  • Investigated mutation rates, focusing on G→U and C→U transitions.
  • Examined the influence of genomic context and recurrent mutations (homoplasy).

Main Results:

  • Identified significantly elevated G→U and C→U mutation rates, accounting for most SARS-CoV-2 mutations.
  • These mutations are highly homoplasic, occurring repeatedly at the same genomic positions.
  • Genomic context has a limited effect on mutation rates.
  • Evidence suggests selection may increase, not decrease, U content at synonymous sites.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated G→U and C→U mutation rates are a key feature of SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
  • Findings have implications for understanding viral evolution, designing effective vaccines, and tracking viral spread.
  • Accurate analysis requires accounting for mutation rate biases and evolutionary dynamics.