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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

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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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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Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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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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Mutations in Microorganisms01:18

Mutations in Microorganisms

53
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,...
53
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

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The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are...
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Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

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Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 mutational spectrum.

Jesse D Bloom1,2,3, Annabel C Beichman2, Richard A Neher4

  • 1Basic Sciences Division and Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|December 1, 2022
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Summary

The mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 is not static; it changes during viral evolution. Omicron and Delta variants show distinct shifts in mutation types compared to earlier strains, suggesting a dynamic viral mutation process.

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibits rapid evolution, partly attributed to its high mutation rate.
  • Understanding if the viral mutation process itself evolves is crucial for tracking viral evolution and predicting future variants.

Approach:

  • Quantified relative rates of single nucleotide mutations at four-fold degenerate sites across millions of human SARS-CoV-2 sequences.
  • Analyzed mutation spectrum shifts throughout the SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic tree, comparing early clades with variants like Delta and Omicron.

Key Points:

  • Observed significant shifts in the relative rates of specific mutation types during SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
  • Noted a notable two-fold decrease in G→T mutations in Omicron compared to early clades.
  • Identified a decrease in C→T mutations in the Delta variant and other subtle spectral changes.

Conclusions:

  • The mutation spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 is a dynamic evolutionary variable, not a fixed characteristic.
  • Omicron's mutation spectrum shows increased similarity to the long-term evolutionary spectrum of sarbecoviruses.
  • These spectral changes may result from viral adaptations affecting replication, packaging, or host immune interactions, or potentially environmental factors.