(April 27, 2021 at 12:34 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:(April 27, 2021 at 10:39 am)FlatAssembler Wrote: Really not the same thing. Again, smallpox is a DNA virus, so it is not nearly as prone to mutation. Furthermore, smallpox had very closely related viruses with which it could presumably (I haven't checked it) mate (cowpox...) to reduce the impact of those mutations. No virus closely related to COVID-19 attacks humans so that COVID-19 can mate with it.
So, if you are less ignorant of science, answer my question. Why didn't COVID-19 die from inbreeding after jumping from bats to humans?
Viruses reproduce, but they don’t ‘breed’ in the conventional sense. They are self-replicators, so inbreeding isn’t an issue. Even if it were, I don’t see what moving from one species to another would have to do with it. HGT tends to increase genetic diversity, not stifle it.
Viruses don’t mate with each other in a way that would result in inbreeding.
Boru
You have more patience than I do. You are a gentleman and a scowler.

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