Since the emergence of the new coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, several researchers have proposed that there is more than one strain, and that mutations have led to changes in how infectious and deadly it is.
However, opinions are divided. Genetic mutations are a natural, everyday phenomenon. They can occur every time genetic material is copied.
When a virus replicates inside the cell it has infected, the myriad of new copies will have small differences. Why is this important?
When mutations lead to changes in how a virus behaves, it can have significant consequences. These do not necessarily have to be detrimental to the host, but in the case of vaccines or drugs that target specified viral proteins, mutations may weaken these