The Coronavirus GenomeThe coronavirus is an oily membrane packed with genetic instructions to make millions of copies of itself. Each amino acid is encoded by three genetic letters, but in many cases a mutation to the third letter of a trio will still encode the same amino acid. ORF1a protein E protein u u u ◀ Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the E protein ▶ I Y ORF1a protein E protein u u u I Y ◀ Amino acid change in ORF1a Amino acid change in E ▶ u Y E protein ▲ Amino acid change in the E protein ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein ▼ u I u u Y E protein ▲ Amino acid change in the E protein ORF1a protein Amino acid change in the ORF1a protein ▼ u I uBut proteins can be made of hundreds or thousands of amino acids. Some Mutations Disappear, Others SpreadAs the months have passed, parts of the coronavirus genome have gained many mutations. Of all the viruses that scientists have studied in New York since then, none bears the mutations in her coronavirus genome.

Source: New York Times April 30, 2020 09:00 UTC