Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health Culture and Sports Directorate coordinated the program titled 'Mutated Virus,' hosted by the Molecular Biology and Genetics Club, with Dr. Semih Tareen as the guest. Stating that mutations are normal, Tareen said, 'Mutations can occur in all living things; trillions of mutations can occur in one person in one day.'
'In my eyes, viruses are also alive'
Touching upon the topic of viruses, Tareen said; 'When we look, the most dense living things in the universe are viruses. For example, if you look at a drop of ocean water, you can see billions of virus particles. Viruses play an important role in the evolution of living things. It is the transfer of nucleic acid. Among the public and academics, the question of whether a virus is alive or not is also circulating. What a living thing is, is a concept that emerges with anthropomorphism. Therefore, they do not think of living things in nature as creatures that breathe or expend energy like humans, but as a transfer of nucleic acid. In my eyes, viruses are also alive.' he stated.
'Covid-19 is an immune system disease'
Evaluating the coronavirus issue, Tareen said; 'Among RNA viruses, coronavirus has the largest RNA genome. The coronavirus life cycle is entirely cytoplasmic. It does not enter the nucleus like retroviruses. It infects the cell. Many living things in nature get infected. These viruses already come as a jump from animal to human. When there are thousands of coronavirus cases in nature and people interact with animals, these kinds of virus jumps can occur. Damage in the lung tomography of coronavirus patients is also observed. The reason for this is not the virus itself. Covid-19 is an immune system disease. The virus itself does not cause this damage, but when your immune system attacks cells infected by viruses, that immune system causes damage.' he expressed.
'Mutations are normal, they occur in all living things'
Touching upon the topic of mutations, Tareen said; 'Mutations are normal, they occur in all living things. Trillions of mutations can occur in one person in one day. There are thousands of mutations in SARS-COV-2. There are mutations in the cluster. There are over 17 mutations, but 17 of them are amino acid-changing or deletion mutations. In addition, there are 6 mutations that do not change amino acids, meaning they are ineffective. There are interesting mutations in this new lineage named 'B.1.1.7' spreading in the UK. The N501Y mutation, among the mutations, can bind to ACE2 receptors, allowing it to enter human cells. The N501Y mutation can adapt to the mouse ACE2 receptor.' he said.