Mutations happen when … According to Professor Goodman, mutations only happen when the virus is in an environment where it can spread easily. - given the virus what amounts to an infectious advantage over the previous version? She says that to grow inside a person, the virus has to make copies of its genes. SIMON: NPR's global health correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff, thanks so much for being with us. Thanks so much for being with us. Just as natural selection has shaped the evolution of humans, plants, and all living things on the planet, natural selection shapes viruses, too. RNA viruses mutate faster than DNA viruses, single-stranded viruses mutate faster than double-strand virus, and genome size appears to correlate negatively with mutation rate. As the coronavirus spreads, it makes huge numbers of copies of itself, and each version is a little different from the one before it, experts say. Virus spillover is a complex process and not fully understood. And all the scientists I spoke to say the vaccine needs to roll out as quickly as possible because, so far, scientists do believe that the vaccine will still be effective against this new version of the virus. For example, the polio virus can't easily change its genome, Jenkins said. DOUCLEFF: Yeah. “Viruses mutate all the time,” says Dr. Jose Cordero of the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health. That's why we've been so successful at (almost) eradicating it. Viruses typically mutate over time. “You can have very small changes,” says Levy. RNA viruses mutate faster than DNA viruses, single-stranded viruses mutate faster than double-strand virus, and genome size appears to correlate negatively with mutation rate. With new variant in the coronavirus cropping up in several states, we take a look at how viruses mutate and how those mutations can make the coronavirus more contagious. MICHAELEEN DOUCLEFF, BYLINE: Thank you, Scott. Those things will work, but it requires a greater level of rigor in the adherence to those things. Mutation of Virus. And right now, here in the U.S., scientists think it's still pretty uncommon. Like all life, viruses carry a genetic … Changes are more likely harming the coronavirus rather than making it stronger. But these aren’t the scary mutations … most influenza viruses that infect humans seem to originate in parts of asia, where close contact between livestock and people creates a hospitable environment for mutation and transmission of viruses Like humans and animals, when viruses reproduce, ‘copying errors’ or genetic mutations appear. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Not all viruses mutate so readily. Why viruses mutate. SIMON: I understand this version of the virus has a set of mutations in its genes. In humans, outbreaks of Ebola end all the time. The flu virus does so more readily than Covid, which is why scientists develop a new vaccine against it every year. Because it is believed to be more contagious than previous versions, there are concerns this could mean even more infections across the country. Medical experts say mutations to the coronavirus shouldn't be a major concern. The Different Ways Viruses Mutate If you've ever wondered why you need a flu shot every year, it's because viruses must constantly adapt to their environment. It's a normal process of evolution. But in rare instances, mutations can help the virus. I talked to Bettie Steinberg. This virus more than any other has taught us to expect change. Just how do mutations influence the original virus and what do viral mutations mean for humans? And mutations in viruses crop up all the time when the virus grows inside a person, specifically when it reproduces and makes a bunch of copies of itself. “The nature of viruses is to mutate,” said Bedford, explaining that as these microorganisms rapidly reproduce, genetic errors can occur. Unfortunately, some viruses are unlikely to ever go extinct, because we aren’t their only host. For most viruses, replication involves making many errors. Alex coordinates video production and STAT Brand Studio projects. Since the virus was first identified a year ago, thousands of mutations have arisen. What happens when unemployment benefits pay more than your job. This elevated mutation rate, when combined with natural selection, allows viruses to quickly adapt to changes in their host environment. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Mutation of Virus. Stephen Goldstein studies virus evolution at the University of Utah. Now health officials have detected the new variant of the virus first seen in the U.K. in California, Colorado and Florida. DOUCLEFF: Yeah. It seems to me that from early on in this crisis, the Government developed a particular narrative of fear from which it cannot now deviate without admitting that its whole policy has been a disaster. And mutations in viruses crop up all the time when the virus grows inside a person, specifically when it reproduces … Viruses are simply protein shells that contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material. All viruses naturally mutate over time, and Sars-CoV-2 is no exception. Less virus replication leads to fewer opportunities for the virus to evolve in humans. Like all life, viruses carry a genetic … By December, it had become the dominant one in London. The virus just makes random mistakes when it gets copied. SIMON: So what's happened with this new variant? When viruses infect such a host cell, they insert their genetic information into it. The mutation has become more common as the Covid-19 pandemic goes on, which suggests — but does not prove — that it makes the virus more infectious in the real world, too. Alex Hogan. Eventually, you might leave out a comma that changes the meaning slightly. How do mutations occur? In the video above, find out why, and how, viruses mutate. About the Author Reprints. About 350,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. BETTIE STEINBERG: It's just like copying a manuscript. They mutate the way that our own genes mutate, by mistakes in the replication of the genes.Many types mutate more often than others. She's a virologist at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research on Long Island. DOUCLEFF: Well, the good news here, Goldstein says, is that all the measures that we've been doing so far to stop the previous variants will stop this new one. Goodman says when viruses mutate in a way that is beneficial to its survival, that mutation of the virus will multiply and spread. Those shifts and changes aren’t always a big deal. Every virus mutates; it’s part of the virus life cycle. Why do viruses mutate? GOLDSTEIN: It's not a new variant that can go through masks. A mutation is a change in a virus’s genome, which is the set of genetic instructions that houses all the information the virus needs to function. Mutation, an alteration in the genetic material (the genome) of a cell of a living organism or of a virus that is more or less permanent and that can be transmitted to the cell’s or the virus’s descendants. So this version has actually 17 mutations. The flu virus does so more readily than Covid, which is why scientists develop a new vaccine against it every year. “Viruses mutate all the time,” says Dr. Jose Cordero of the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health. In order to spread, any virus has to replicate itself and it often makes mistakes. Tyler Perry mentioned as unsung hero in royal couple's escape to America, Siblings, ages 11 and 17, missing in DeKalb County, police say, 14-year-old inspires teens to pursue STEAM careers, Warming Trend: 60s and 70s ahead this week, Still perfect: Team LeBron wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150, Aquarium owners urged to carefully dispose of plant that may harbor dangerously invasive creature, Car fire turns into homicide investigation in northwest Atlanta. Viruses have short generation times, and many—in particular RNA viruses —have relatively high mutation rates (on the order of one point mutation or more per genome per round of replication). DOUCLEFF: In the vast majority of cases, these mistakes are harmless, or they even weaken the virus. Sometimes there's typos. SIMON: And how does that happen? The HA and NA surface proteins of influenza viruses are “antigens,” which means they are recognized by the immune system and are capable of triggering an … "Viruses mutate," said Dr. Nels Elde, Ph.D., associate professor of human genetics at the University of Utah. Why could social distancing lead to long-term health impacts on the elderly? Dr. Karen Levy of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University says to think of it like writing a sentence on a blackboard over and over. STEPHEN GOLDSTEIN: When you expel virus when you talk or breathe, you're going to get more virus out than somebody who doesn't have this variant simply because you have more virus in you to begin with. Viruses that replicate through DNA use the same mechanisms the host cell uses to create its own DNA, a process that includes a kind of "proof-reading" of the genetic material being copied. All rights reserved. In nature, most viruses are confined to particular hosts because of specific protein "lock … Why It's Difficult For Viruses To Turn In To Deadly Pandemics Zika, bird flu, West Nile virus, Nipah: The world is constantly being warned of a new disease that threatens to … To try and understand it, where do those mutations come from? The fabled mutation rates of RNA viruses appear to be partially a consequence of selection on another trait, not because such a high mutation rate is optimal in and of itself. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Not all viruses mutate so readily. Sometimes, identifying a new variant by its characteristic mutation can be enough, especially when the mutations … With less opportunity to mutate, the evolution of the virus slows and there is a lower risk of new variants. And it is responsible for the huge surge in cases there now. Viruses typically mutate over time. Just how do mutations influence the original virus and what do viral mutations mean for humans? Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. “Viruses mutate all the time,” says Dr. Jose Cordero of the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health. “How do we approach emerging infections and have an early warning system?” says Cordero. NPR global health correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff joins us now. These are small changes (or mutations) in the genes of influenza viruses that can lead to changes in the surface proteins of the virus: HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase). Why do they persist instead with terrifying rhetoric of a ‘mutant’ virus spreading out of control. Though viruses arent technically living they need a host organism in order to reproduce they are subject to evolutionary pressures. Medical experts say mutations to the coronavirus shouldn't be a major concern. Mutations are the building blocks of most of evolution—they are the variation upon which natural selection can act, and they are the cause of much of the novelty we see occur in evolution . So they're not quite sure yet, but they have some data that is pointing to two main hypotheses. More than 20 million people have now been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus in the United States. Copyright © 2021 NPR. Mutation, an alteration in the genetic material (the genome) of a cell of a living organism or of a virus that is more or less permanent and that can be transmitted to the cell’s or the virus’s descendants. For example, the polio virus can't easily change its genome, Jenkins said. However, most mutations are not … This includes RNA viruses and single strand DNA viruses. DOUCLEFF: Yeah. This means that viruses like the flu mutate rapidly. The virus’s ability to rapidly mutate lets it escape from the immune system’s memory and explains why people can be repeatedly re-infected with flu – unlike measles or polio. So scientists first detected this new variant, like you said, in the U.K. back in September. They can give it this little boost or advantage over the other versions. DOUCLEFF: The other hypothesis is that the new variant binds to human cells more easily, so people can get infected with lower doses of the virus. RELATED: What happens when unemployment benefits pay more than your job? The Covid virus is … The mutation at position 23,403 has drawn the most attention—in part because it changed the virus’ spike, the protein on its surface that attaches to human cells. First, a mutation is just a change Most of the time, mutations don’t do anything to a virus at all. Why would mutations make a virus more contagious? In order to spread, any virus has to replicate itself and it often makes mistakes. That's why we've been so successful at (almost) eradicating it. This can mean that many treatments and vaccines become ineffective, and is one of the reasons why we need a new flu jab every year. In order to spread, any virus has to replicate itself and it often makes mistakes. Below we look at two special cases in viral evolution: how evolution occurs in influenza viruses and in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes A… The Covid virus is … “Every year we have to reformulate the flu vaccine because the flu virus is constantly changing,” says Dr. Levy. Why Virus Variants Have Such Weird Names. It's a normal process of evolution. So this version has actually 17 mutations. For instance, a virus can jump from host A to host B, but it won’t replicate well or transmit between individuals unless multiple protein keys mutate either simultaneously, or consecutively. “80-90% of the changes in a virus are actually bad for the virus.”. While the mutations are routine, health experts say it’s important to study them. RELATED: Why could social distancing lead to long-term health impacts on the elderly? Changes are more likely harming the coronavirus rather than making it stronger. Some viruses mutate more than others. Why do viruses mutate? Restaurants in Georgia prepare to reopen their doors on today, Georgia releases list of 48 coronavirus testing sites across state, CDC names six new symptoms of coronavirus. He says that there's some evidence that the new variant generates more virus particles inside a person's nose or respiratory tract, possibly a lot more. In some cases, those mutations may actually lead to a weaker virus. "That's one of the things that makes them such a successful entity." Why do viruses mutate? Senior Multimedia Producer. But they believe that could change pretty fast, like in the next month or two, because they estimate the variant is about 50% more transmissible than the previous ones. To multiply, viruses use a host cell. DOUCLEFF: For example, right now, if, say, only 80% of people in a community are following these guidelines, then to stop this new variant, you would need something like 90% or 95% of people to follow the guidelines. "Which only happens when people come together and it has that opportunity to infect another person, it's going to make more copies of itself." This variant has also spread to at least 32 other countries. Some viruses mutate more than others. Accuracy and availability may vary. SARS-CoV-2, the virus … RELATED: Restaurants in Georgia prepare to reopen their doors on today, RELATED: Georgia releases list of 48 coronavirus testing sites across state, RELATED: CDC names six new symptoms of coronavirus. The Different Ways Viruses Mutate If you've ever wondered why you need a flu shot every year, it's because viruses must constantly adapt to their environment. Have the mutations - can they tell so far? One way influenza viruses change is called “antigenic drift.”. “The best way to explain it is that it’s part of evolution.”. "If it just so happens that those mutations help to increase their levels and make them more infectious, then those are just going to get propagated. The researchers used a high-throughput approach to mutate all of the genes in a virus in one experiment -- a useful way to understand the future of viral evolution. Why? ATLANTA — ATLANTA – The coronavirus has changed since arriving in the United States, but medical experts say it’s not a reason for added concern. Medical experts say changes in the coronavirus have been much slower than mutations in the flu.