It was actually always known to halve a relatively high point mutation rate, giving it a higher rate of genetic drift. It does NOT have the same mechanism as influenza for allowing genetic SHIFT.
We focussed on talking about its low rate of genetic shift and ignored the high rate of genetic drift when making claims of low mutability, but it was really only a half truth at best.
GaitAtaxia t1_j7jso9t wrote
Reply to comment by NotAnotherEmpire in (Virology) Has SARS-CoV-2 outcompeted all the other coronaviruses which have been called the ‘common cold’? by jsgui
It was actually always known to halve a relatively high point mutation rate, giving it a higher rate of genetic drift. It does NOT have the same mechanism as influenza for allowing genetic SHIFT.
We focussed on talking about its low rate of genetic shift and ignored the high rate of genetic drift when making claims of low mutability, but it was really only a half truth at best.