NOT GOOD: Two virus variants have merged into heavily mutated coronavirus

[634-5789]

The UK and California variants of coronavirus appear to have combined into a heavily mutated hybrid, sparking concern that we may be entering a new phase of the covid-19 pandemic. If confirmed, the recombinant would be the first to be detected in this pandemic. In December and January, two research groups independently reported that they hadn’t seen any evidence of recombination, even though it has long been expected as it is common in coronaviruses.

Unlike regular mutation, where changes accumulate one at a time, which is how variants such as B.1.1.7 arose, recombination can bring together multiple mutations in one go. Most of the time, these don’t confer any advantage to the virus, but occasionally they do.

Recombination can be of major evolutionary importance, according to François Balloux at University College London. It is considered by many to be how SARS-CoV-2 originated.



https://www.newscientist.com/article/2268014-exclusive-two-variants-have-merged-into-heavily-mutated-coronavirus/

[634-5789]

1. Not to bum anybody out but knowledge is power.

[Delphinus]

3. Agreed.

I read an article on the San Francisco Chronicle interviewing a Dr. Larry Brilliant, a Bay area epidemiologist, who says basically we have years to go.

[mrs_p]

4. Years to go of the pandemic?

Or years before a recombinant strain becomes dominant or years before we are all killed off by the virus?

[BeerBarrelPolka]

5. Right

I'd like some clarity on that statement as well.

[Delphinus]

6. Good question.

I don't remember him addressing that.

[mdelaguna]

2. Let's hope it's not this:

“ This kind of event could allow the virus to have coupled a more infectious virus with a more resistant virus,” Korber said at the New York...” from the article. No evidence at this point just a worst case...