Big Picture Science - Attack of the Mutants
The omicron variant is surging. More
contagious than delta, omicron demonstrates how viruses use mutations to
quickly adapt.
Mutations drive evolution, although most don’t
do much. But occasionally a mutation improves an organism. Omicron, the latest
in a string of variants, is bad for us, but good for the virus.
How mutation of viruses ensures their own
survival while threatening ours, and the prospect of a universal vaccine that
would protect us against all a viruses’ variants.
Guests:
- Robert Garry – Professor of microbiology and virologist in the Tulane University School of Medicine
- Kevin Saunders – Professor in the Duke University School of Medicine’s Human Vaccine Institute and professor of surgery
Download podcast at - http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/attack-of-the-mutants
You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.
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