It seems one mutation in the original virus perhaps led to the Covid-19 pandemic
It seems that there was one mutation in the genetic material of the virus, which enabled the virus to infect humans.This mutation coded for an alanine, instead of a threonine (different amino acids). This change made it more
difficult for certain sugars to bind to the attachment spike protein which enables better attachment with the human receptor. Apparently, those sugars got in the way of the attachment.
It is likely, that this mutation has occurred many times and until the virus infected a human, it may not have been a trait that was selected as favorable.
As we have witnessed with the emergence of new variants, it seems that the virus readily mutates.
Those mutations that are advantageous to the spread of the virus are selected for.
While it is possible, that the bat directly came in contact with the human, it is more likely, that the bat bit an animal (perhaps a pet, livestock, or other animal that comes in contact with humans) and it was passed onto humans by such an intermediate animal, perhaps from a sneeze or cough from that animal.
You can read about this new research from the following link;
Comments (9)
I'm not suggesting the mutation was engineered in some way, I'm just asking if the mutation could have appeared there.
I think it is too complex an issue for scientists to engineer.
If they were to intentionally change the structure of the spike protein, it likely would be more direct
than the subtle one, that involved sugars. They would have more likely changed the attachment area
to directly better match the receptor. But, I think the discovery better explains how it could randomly change to bind to other species naturally.
I'm asking if the mutation could have appeared in the lab.
But that was an interesting reply, all the same.
If you meant, could it have appeared FIRST at the Wuhan lab and spread from there ?
We don't know. It could have. But, it seems unlikely. Think of nature as a huge lab. But, in nature there are no strict precautions, as in a virology lab, and a lot more bats and a lot more free-roaming animals and a lot more human interacting animals. Thus, the odds are, that it first happened in nature and spread in nature.
The problem is, that there is no forensic timeline, because the disease was new and spread through the air before anyone knew what it was. Indeed, it spread to other countries before anyone knew what arrived. It spread near and far before anyone knew what it was. It may even have originated in another country and first identified in Wuhan because it eventually arrived there, where there are experts studying OTHER Covid viruses.
We will probably never know.
What is important, is effectively controlling this virus and future viruses.
Next killer virus is likely to be ignored, due to this one being over exaggerated!
Jaa - that's a good statement. It became a finger pointing exercise, that benefited no one. When people FINALLY learn to work TOGETHER to solve problems, more will be accomplished.