This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19. Credit: NIAID-RML.

Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates

Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Research by scientists in China has revealed two different types of coronavirus, indicating that the virus mutated at least once.

Scientists at Peking University’s School of Life Sciences and the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai designated the strains L and S.

The L type was found to be more prevalent and accounted for nearly 70%, compared to the S type at approximately 30%.

Also, the L type was prevalent in the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan but decreased from early January. Meanwhile, the S type is said to be evolutionarily older and less aggressive.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

According to researchers, results indicate that development of variations in the spike present in the novel coronavirus was possibly caused by mutations, natural selection and recombination.

In a statement, the scientists said: “These findings strongly support an urgent need for further immediate, comprehensive studies that combine genomic data, epidemiological data, and chart records of the clinical symptoms of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).”

However, the team analysed a limited set of data, and follow-up studies are required to understand virus evolution and epidemiology.