The mutations that give rise to new strains occur when the SARS-CoV-2 virus makes copies of itself inside a new host. The virus’ genome is a complete set of genetic instructions that is written in 30,000 “letters” of code.

Le coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 a muté en sept grands groupes, ou souches, en s’adaptant à ses hôtes humains.

Reuters analysed over 185,000 genome samples from GISAID, the largest database of novel coronavirus genome sequences in the world, to show how the regional dominance of major strains has shifted over time.

The GISAID data mapped out about 3,500 of the coronavirus samples from all over the world, that shows how they are related. A visualisation of the data illustrates the relationships among the samples and where new strains emerged.

Chart showing the strains of the novel coronavirus present in 185,000 virus samples.

CORRECTION A previous version of this graphic incorrectly stated that Wuhan is a province in China. The world is now dealing with a different type of SARS-CoV-2 than the one that emerged in China almost a year ago, with mutations creating at least seven strains of the virus so far.

People wait for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

A nurse takes a blood sample from a man for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

A nurse takes a blood sample from a woman for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

People wait for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

A nurse takes a blood sample from a woman for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

People wait for a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test with the help of 'Dados do Bem' app, developed by doctors and scientists to use data information to analyze the evolution of population immunity, at the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Graphique montrant l'évolution de la fumée dégagée par les incendies de la côte ouest aux Etats-Unis

Le graphique montre la population âgée par pays et la projection de son évolution.

Graphic shows the evolution of the Baodi Mall cluster of COVID-19 infections, in Tianjin, China.

A look at the history of sports at the summer Olympics

A look at the history of sports at the summer Olympics (En francais)

A look at the history of sports at the summer Olympics (In Japanese)

Las compañías predecesoras de Juul, Ploom Inc y Pax Labs, lanzaron varios dispositivos de vapeo antes del cigarrillo electrónico Juul.

Juul’s predecessor companies, Ploom Inc and Pax Labs, released several vaping devices before the Juul e-cigarette.

Kevin Crowder helps his son Elias Crowder create a Pan African flag at the American Evolution 2019 Commemoration, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

African dancers take part in the American Evolution 2019 Commemoration ceremony, marking the 400 year anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

African dancers take part in the American Evolution 2019 Commemoration ceremony, marking the 400 year anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

African dancers celebrate at the American Evolution 2019 Commemoration ceremony, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

U.S. Rep. (D-MO) William Lacy Clay applauds during first African slave landings anniversary ceremony presented by American Evolution - 2019 Commemoration and Fort Monroe Authority in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of Hampton, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

Members of the community participate in the 2019 African Landing Commemorative American Evolution and Fort Monroe Authority in partnership with the National Park Service and the City of Hampton, in Hampton, Virginia, U.S., August 24, 2019. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

People interact with Olafur Eliasson's 'The cubic structural evolution project 2004', which consists of one tonne of white Lego bricks, at the Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in London, Britain July 26, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Graphique présentant l’évolution du marché mondial des voitures électriques et les prévisions pour les 10 prochaines années selon l’Agence internationale de l’énergie et LMC Automotive

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice poses with former West Ham player Tony Cottee after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice speaks after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice speaks after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice speaks after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice poses after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 West Ham's Declan Rice poses after winning the London Football Awards young player of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks fter winning the London Football Awards manager of the year while former Tottenham player and manager Osvaldo Ardiles looks on Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino speaks after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino poses with former Tottenham player and manager Osvaldo Ardiles after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino poses after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino poses after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino poses with former Tottenham player and manager Osvaldo Ardiles after winning the London Football Awards manager of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Paul Childs

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend poses with Bob Wilson after winning the London Football Awards goal of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck poses after they won the community project of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Soccer Football - London Football Awards 2019 - Battersea Evolution, London, Britain - February 28, 2019 Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend poses after winning the London Football Awards goal of the year Action Images for LFAP via Reuters/Peter Cziborra