Strypey
@strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

"Both influenza and corona are RNA viruses; consequently they have a higher mutation rate than DNA viruses, which have a 'proof-reading ability' to find and repair damaged genetic material. 'RNA viruses copy themselves unfaithfully', writes Lowe, 'making difficult the determination of any original form as well as precise foreknowledge about future forms; the copy is unfaithful to the original'.”

, 2020

doi.org/10.1080/19428200.2020.

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Strypey
@strypey@mastodon.nzoss.nz  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

"These viruses have unstable boundaries, so many biologists call them “mutant swarms” or “clouds.” Since swarms and clouds constantly change shape, perhaps researchers are warranted in using fuzzy language as they talk about COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 quasi-species."

#EbenKirksey, 2020

https://doi.org/10.1080/19428200.2020.1760631

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