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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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Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

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Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
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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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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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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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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 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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An evolutionary theory on virus mutation in COVID-19.

Liaofu Luo1, Jun Lv2

  • 1Faculty of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, 235 West College Road, Hohhot 010021, China.

Virus Research
|March 20, 2024
PubMed
Summary

This study presents a new evolutionary theory and model to predict the emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains. Findings show random iterations can forecast new viral macro-lineages.

Keywords:
COVID-19Evolutionary theorySpike proteinVirus mutation

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2025

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates understanding the mechanisms driving new strain emergence.
  • Identifying conditions conducive to viral mutation and adaptation is critical for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a theoretical framework for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 mutations and predicting new strain generation.
  • To establish a computational model for forecasting viral evolution and macro-lineage emergence.

Main Methods:

  • Representing virus variants using 4-letter amino acid mutation sequences on the spike protein.
  • Employing an n-distance algorithm to construct a variant phylogenetic tree.
  • Proposing an A-X model integrating existing mutation sites (A) with random sites (X) to calculate new strain emergence.

Main Results:

  • The theoretically derived phylogenetic tree shows strong alignment with experimental data on SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
  • The A-X model demonstrates that sufficient random iterations predict new macro-lineage generation when the size of X is adequate.
  • The study provides a predictive capability for the emergence of significant viral variants.

Conclusions:

  • The presented evolutionary theory offers a robust foundation for understanding SARS-CoV-2 diversification.
  • The A-X model serves as a valuable tool for anticipating future viral strain development.
  • These findings are crucial for proactive strategies in managing viral evolution and pandemics.