new variant Covid-19 strain

Question 1

Why do viruses mutate?

Answer 1

A mutation just means a difference; a letter change in the genome.

Mutations in viruses are a natural part of evolution.
The pressure on the virus to evolve is increased by the fact that so many millions of people have now been infected.

Question 2

What is the Covid-19 mutant strain?

Answer 2

It has been named VUI-202012/01 (the first “Variant Under Investigation” in December 2020) and is defined by a set of 17 changes or mutations.

Question 3

What is mutation?

Answer 3

a mutation means a change in the sequence in which its molecules are arranged.

Question 4

What is RNA?

Answer 4

• The particles in nucleus of the cell, responsible for heredity, are called chromosomes which are made up of proteins and another type of biomolecules called nucleic acids.-> two types of nucleic acids — DNA and RNA.
• A nucleic acid containing deoxyribose is called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) while that which contains ribose is called ribonucleic acid (RNA).
• Both DNA and RNA contain Adenine, Guanine and Cytosine. The fourth base is Thymine in DNA and Uracil in RNA.
• The structure of DNA is a double strand [helix] whereas RNA is a single strand molecule.
• https://www.pmfias.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Nucleobases-DNA-RNA.jpg

Question 5

What is mRNA?

Answer 5

• There are three types of RNA — mRNA, rRNA and tRNA which actually carry out the protein synthesis in the cell
• Cellular organisms use messenger RNA (mRNA) to convey genetic information that directs synthesis of specific proteins.

Question 6

What is mRNA vaccine?

Answer 6

• Such vaccines make use of the messenger RNA molecules that tell the body’s cells what proteins to build.
• A coronavirus vaccine based on mRNA, once injected into the body, will instruct the body’s cells to create copies of the spike protein.
• In turn, this is expected to prompt the immune cells to create antibodies to fight it.