From RNA World to SARS-CoV-2: The Edited Story of RNA Viral Evolution

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores the importance of understanding evolution RNA genomes. While is subject to formation similar lesions as DNA, evolutionary and physiological impacts have on viral genomes are yet be characterized. Lesions that may drive can induce breaks repaired by recombination or cause base substitution mutagenesis, also known editing. Over past decade so, editing mutagenesis DNA has been many studies, revealing exposure ssDNA hypermutation involved in etiology cancer. However, not studied same extent. Recently single-stranded documented though its role population dynamics. Here, we will summarize knowledge key mechanisms causes genome instability covering areas from world theory today. We highlight questions remain it pertains instability, mutations accumulation, experimental strategies for addressing these questions.