Toggle light / dark theme

SARS-CoV-2 mutations similar to those in the B1.1.7 UK variant could arise in cases of chronic infection, where treatment over an extended period can provide the virus multiple opportunities to evolve, say scientists.

Writing in Nature, a team led by Cambridge researchers report how they were able to observe SARS-CoV-2 mutating in the case of an immunocompromised patient treated with convalescent plasma. In particular, they saw the emergence of a key mutation also seen in the new variant that led to the UK being forced once again into strict lockdown, though there is no suggestion that the variant originated from this patient.

Using a synthetic version of the virus Spike protein created in the lab, the team showed that specific changes to its genetic code — the mutation seen in the B1.1.7 variant — made the virus twice as infectious on cells as the more common strain.

Analysis reveals genetic control elements that are linked to hundreds of human traits.

Twenty years ago this month, the first draft of the human genome was publicly released. One of the major surprises that came from that project was the revelation that only 1.5 percent of the human genome consists of protein-coding genes.

Over the past two decades, it has become apparent that those noncoding stretches of DNA, originally thought to be “junk DNA,” play critical roles in development and gene regulation. In a new study published on February 32021, a team of researchers from MIT has published the most comprehensive map yet of this noncoding DNA.

Many believe that drug companies should already be updating their vaccines to target mutated versions of the Covid-19 spike protein. But can the patterns of mutations scientists are seeing popping up in Covid-19 around the world offer any clues about how the virus will continue to evolve?

“It is hard to speculate, but it is interesting that all of a sudden there does seem to be a lot of mutations appearing that could be associated with immune escape or immune recognition,” says Brendan Larsen, a PhD student working with Worobey in Arizona. He recently identified a new variant of Covid-19 circulating in Arizona that has the H69/V70 deletion seen in several other versions of the virus. While still only spreading at a relatively low level there and in other states of the US, it suggests that this particular mutation is recurring independently around the world.


Every time the coronavirus passes from person to person it picks up tiny changes to its genetic code, but scientists are starting to notice patterns in how the virus is mutating.

Gearing up for the interview with Harold Katcher!


Epigenetic age reversed by 54%. Scientific trial by Horvath Clock.

In this video we will discuss a paper entitled “Reversing age: dual species measurement of epigenetic age with a single clock”.
The paper can be found here https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.07.082917v1.full.

The paper is a preprint available on bioXriv on a study showing the reversal of age in rats through exchange of blood plasma. Blood plasma of older rats was exchanged for that of younger rats which lead to the older rats having a reduced epigenetic age and many improved biomarkers, including reduced inflammation.

The age of the rats’ tissue was assessed by Dr Steve Horvath using 6 separate clocks which covered individual tissue as well as a pan tissue clocks.