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Bioscience-Medicine

Why Viruses Mutate: Breaking Down The New Coronavirus Variant

By Michaeleen Doucleff
Published January 2, 2021 at 6:53 AM CST
The image depicts the coronavirus binding to a human cell. The variant identified in the United Kingdom has a mutation known to increase how tightly the virus binds to human cells.
The image depicts the coronavirus binding to a human cell. The variant identified in the United Kingdom has a mutation known to increase how tightly the virus binds to human cells.

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.

Copyright 2021 NPR

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Bioscience-MedicineWeekend Edition
Michaeleen Doucleff
Michaeleen Doucleff is a correspondent for NPR's Science Desk. She reports for the radio and the Web for NPR's global health and development blog, Goats and Soda. Doucleff focuses on disease outbreaks, drug development, and trends in global health.
See stories by Michaeleen Doucleff