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Viral evolution

3
episodes
3
thinkers
8h
of conversation
13
books & papers
7
terms defined

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The lexicon

Every term the guests lean on, in plain language. Read one in full, or filter to find it.

    What the corpus says

    The throughline across every conversation that touches this idea.

    There are 10^31 viruses in the ocean, surpassing the biomass of elephants by a thousandfold.
    RNA viruses evolve rapidly, existing at their error threshold, which allows for quick adaptation.
    Rabies has a 100% fatality rate if untreated, underscoring the critical role of vaccination.
    SARS-CoV-2's genome is 30,000 bases, making it one of the longest known RNA viruses.
    mRNA vaccines use lipid nanoparticles to stabilize RNA, proving effective despite initial skepticism.
    The human genome is 99.9% identical across individuals, emphasizing shared humanity despite diversity.
    SARS-CoV-2's genome was sequenced within a week of the first sample, accelerating vaccine development.
    Evolutionary signatures in genomics reveal 99% of the human genome is non-coding, yet crucial for understanding genetic evolution.
    Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 evolve rapidly, with mutations like D614G significantly enhancing human transmission.
    Human genetics has surpassed model organisms in research focus due to vast data from human populations.
    Dmitry Korkin's team mapped the 3D structure of COVID-19 proteins, advancing understanding of its structural genomics.
    COVID-19's R naught varies between 1.5 and 3, significantly lower than measles' R naught of 15, impacting transmission strategies.

    Voices on viral evolution

    10 standout quotes from across the corpus.

    Go read

    13 books and papers cited across these episodes.

    For the specialist

    What experts find new

    8 expert-level takeaways for a specialist reader.

    At the frontier

    Still unresolved

    5 open questions flagged across these conversations.

    The thinkers

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    All guests

    Adjacent ideas