With new variant in the coronavirus cropping up in several states, we take a look at how viruses mutate and how those mutations can make the coronavirus more contagious.

But other variants of the virus are still out there, and more will form as the virus continues to spread. Q. Why do viruses mutate?

As the seasonal flu picks up, there are even more opportunities for the bird flu to acquire mutations as the different influenza viruses mix.

Flu viruses mutate constantly, sometimes on their own as they replicate inside an infected cell, and sometimes through recombination — directly swapping genes with other flu viruses.