How are experts tracking variants of the coronavirus? Scientists are scanning virus samples taken from infected people to look for mutations, through a process called genome sequencing. By sequencing virus samples over time, scientists can look for recurring changes in the genome. Health experts are primarily concerned about three variants first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil. Britain, for example, sequences about 10% of specimens positive for the coronavirus, compared to less than 1% in the US.

Source: Mint February 11, 2021 07:52 UTC