ot medical scientists cv 19 gene sequence question

You cut them in half and count the rings.

These types of viruses mutate fairly rapidly, and with extensive sampling both geographically and time wise they can track lineages.

They can estimate a time stamp it because it doesn’t have mutations in the sequence that popped up later in strains spreading in China.

They can also estimate it by how many changes exist in the strain vs the comparison, but I don’t know if they quantified a mutation rate for this virus yet.

quote:

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Relax. It's just the skinny cv19 gene. Just a fad

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It only infects hipsters, metrosexuals and that guy chasing the Mardi Gras float.

The number of mutations in the gene sequence can allow them to estimate how long it's been around.

Edit: Volvagia nailed it