How viruses multiply and change to survive and grow stronger VOICED

(19 Feb 2021) LEAD IN: Scientists and doctors worldwide are concerned that mutants of the COVID-19 virus may overcome any protection given by the new vaccines. Viruses thrive by multiplying and changing to avoid the barriers created by the new drugs. This is how they do it. STORY-LINE: Viruses can’t survive on their own; they spread by infecting people. This happens when a virus takes over a cell and hacks its machinery to make copies of itself. As it does this, it often makes mistakes. Little changes in the genetic code are called mutations. Many mutations are meaningless, but some offer an advantage and take hold as the virus spreads, becoming what we call ’variants’. The coronavirus has been mutating since late 2019. The rate of change is one thing scientists are studying now. Scientists monitor mutations by watching for genetic changes. This also helps them track how the virus spreads in different regions. It’s not always clear wh