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Recombination—the exchange of genetic material between genomes—is common in coronaviruses because of the way they copy their RNA genomes. During replication, the RNA-synthesizing enzyme these viruses use duplicates shorter sections close to the end of the genome in addition to making the long template it needs for generating whole-genome copies. Furthermore, the enzyme is prone to switching from one template to another, so if a cell has multiple viral genomes in it, the enzyme may stitch together bits from different viruses to create a kind of Frankenstein genome.
RNA viruses can leverage recombination to fix deleterious mutations or acquire new characteristics, which is why virologists say it’s important to keep tabs on any recombination events that may be occurring in SARS-CoV-2. While it’s not yet clear exactly what role recombination is playing in the virus’s evolution, researchers are continuing to monitor and investigate it in an ...
