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Consider the following statements:
1. A mutation is a single change in the genetic material of the virus.
2. A variant is the whole sequence of the virus, which may contain one or more mutations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 only
  • b)
    2 only
  • c)
    Both 1 and 2
  • d)
    Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Consider the following statements:1. A mutation is a single change in ...
Mutation, Variant and Strain
  • When a virus replicates it doesn’t always manage to produce an exact copy of itself.
    • This means that, over time, the virus may start to differ slightly in terms of its genetic sequence.
    • Any changes to the viral genetic sequence during this process is known as a Mutation.
  • The words ‘mutation’ and ‘variant’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but they mean quite different things. A mutation is a single change in the genetic material of the virus (RNA in this case). A variant is the whole sequence of the virus (the genome), which may contain one or more mutations. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
  • When a new variant has different functional properties to the original virus and becomes established in a population, it is sometimes referred to as a New Strain of the virus.
    • All strains are variants, but not all variants are strains.
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Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following statements:1. A mutation is a single change in ...
Statement 1: A mutation is a single change in the genetic material of the virus.
A mutation refers to a change in the genetic material of an organism, including viruses. It can occur due to various factors such as errors during DNA replication, exposure to mutagens (e.g., chemicals, radiation), or recombination events. In the case of a virus, which is a microscopic infectious agent that replicates inside the cells of a host organism, a mutation can occur in its genetic material, which is typically RNA or DNA. Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2: A variant is the whole sequence of the virus, which may contain one or more mutations.
A variant, in the context of viruses, refers to a distinct strain or subtype that has genetic differences compared to other strains of the same virus. These genetic differences can arise due to mutations. While a variant may indeed contain one or more mutations, it is important to note that a variant is not solely defined by the presence of mutations. Variants can also have differences in other characteristics, such as antigenicity or transmissibility. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect.

Explanation:
In summary, a mutation is a single change in the genetic material of a virus, while a variant refers to a distinct strain or subtype that may have genetic differences, including mutations. Therefore, statement 1 is correct, and statement 2 is incorrect.
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