 | By Stephanie Cornwell, Editorial Assistant | | | I talk about COVID a lot but rarely do I geek out about the biology behind its mutations. So today, we will have the talk: Where do COVID variants come from? | | | Today's Top Story | | Biology Class Is in Session |  | We learned in biology that viruses, by nature, mutate to become stronger. Since December 2020, the WHO has named five COVID-19 variants as Variants of Concern (VOC): Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron.
But how does the virus mutate? COVID cannot transmit without a host. Research suggests that variants may arise in infected, immunocompromised people as they risk longer-lasting infections. This is because the longer you're infected, the more time the virus has to replicate and mutate.
Viral mutations can occur at a low frequency during infection, but not all mutations lead to a new VOC.
Pavitra Roychoudhury, PhD, MSc, an instructor at the department of laboratory medicine and pathology at the University of Washington, says that while a viral mutation can occur at a low frequency, it needs to make up the majority of a string of proteins called the "consensus genome" in order to become a VOC.
I like to think of two strains playing tug-of-war. Whichever strain has more advantageous mutations will take over. | | Know More | | Even at a low frequency, a variant can be transmitted to another host. Antivirals could help immunocompromised people fight off COVID-19 and reduce the time in which a variant has the chance to replicate. | | Feel Better | | There are likely thousands of viral mutations that are not harmful to us, and our immune system may be evolving to fight off variants. Not all mutations lead to a new VOC. | | |  | | Weight Loss Shouldn't Be Your 2022 Health Goal. Try These Instead | | Weight loss is one of the most common New Year's resolutions. If your goal is to live a healthier lifestyle, your focus should be less on the number on the scale and more on giving your body what it needs. Social pressure to attain a one-size-fits-all look does not reflect our body's natural shape and size. It's essential to recognize the intention in your health goals, listen to how your body feels, and create habits accordingly. | | | | Surprising Benefits of Having ADHD | | A diagnosis of ADHD is not always a negative thing. ADHD comes with many potential pros or "superpowers," such as high energy, self-awareness, resiliency, and creativity. While there are problematic aspects of ADHD, such as attention problems and hyperactivity, medication and therapy can mitigate them. | | | | | | | |  | | In an interview with Verywell, pediatrician Adrianna Bravo, MD, FAAP, explains how rapid antigen tests are a great tool for surveillance of the virus. |  | | If you've done something high risk—such as a big gathering—you can start taking the test two to three days later at home, and then testing 24 hours after that to ensure you haven't picked up something. | |  |  | Adrianna Bravo, MD, FAAP,
Pediatrician, and senior medical advisor for Inspire Diagnostics
| | | In Other News | | | ■ | You Can't Simply Decide to Be a Different Person. The Atlantic | | | | | ■ | How Seven People Spent Their Money When They Didn't Have to Pay Student Loans. Vox | | | | | ■ | Here's How Climate Change and Covid are Transforming Skiing. The New York Times | | | | | | | |  |     | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
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