Dr. Jing Qu (R), team leader for Stem Cell and Ageing group, and Dr. Wei Wang discuss the work on genome-wide screen for novel ageing regulatory genes in human stem cells at the cell culture room of the Aging and Regeneration lab at the Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, China, January 12, 2021. Picture taken January 12, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

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.

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.

French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, poses after receiving her Nobel diploma and medal from Per Thoresson, Swedish Ambassador to Germany, at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Berlin, Germany December 7, 2020. John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERS

French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, poses after receiving her Nobel diploma and medal from Per Thoresson, Swedish Ambassador to Germany, at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Berlin, Germany December 7, 2020. John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERS

French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, poses with her Nobel medal at the Swedish Ambassador?s residence in Berlin, Germany December 7, 2020. John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERS

French scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, poses with her Nobel medal at the Swedish Ambassador’s residence in Berlin, Germany December 7, 2020. John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERS

Debojyoti Chakraborty, Senior Scientist, at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, shows the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests results done by 'Feluda' paper strips based test developed by CSIR, in New Delhi, India, November 11, 2020. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin poses after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin reacts after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin holds a Swedish themed puppet after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin where scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Institute, has her office and laboratory, is seen, after she won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin holds a swedish themed puppet after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin poses after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin holds a swedish themed puppet after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin reacts after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin holds a swedish themed puppet after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin puts on a protective face mask, after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin puts on a protective face mask, after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin puts on a protective face mask, after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin poses after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin poses after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin reacts after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientist Emmanuelle Charpentier, director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin poses after winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of a method for genome editing, in Berlin, Germany, October 7, 2020. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

From left, Research floor manager Jerry Daniel, research scientist Benjamin Auch and research scientist Cody Hoffmann watch an automated liquid handler run through it paces at the University of Minnesota Genomics Center as researchers begin a trial to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. March 19, 2020. REUTERS/Craig Lassig

From left; Research floor manager Jerry Daniel, research scientist Benjamin Auch and research scientist Cody Hoffmann in their new lab that is being transformed to fight the coronavirus at the University of Minnesota Genomics Center as a trial begins to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. March 19, 2020. REUTERS/Craig Lassig

Researches at the University of Minnesota Genomics Center set up an automated liquid handler as researchers begin a trial to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. March 19, 2020. REUTERS/Craig Lassig

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets and speaks to nurses at East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gestures as he speaks to staff at East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gestures as he speaks to Dr Sarah Bowdin at East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets and speaks to nurses at East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks to Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald who helped develop the Cytosponge at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to outpatient Kathy Power at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald who helped develop the Cyptosponge at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to Dr Sarah Bowdin at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gestures as he speaks to Dr Sarah Bowdin at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets and speaks to nurses at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to nurses at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Britain October 31, 2019. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - CORRECTING LOCATION

A technician works with genome samples at a lab of the biotech company Sinogene that specialises in dog cloning, in Beijing, China June 15, 2018. Picture taken June 15, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Natan prepares to take his medication given to by his mother Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan son of Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg plays catch with his brother in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan is given his medication from his mother Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg with encouragement from his brother in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan, is pushed on a swing by his mother Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, at a park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg walks with her son Natan at a park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Reuters U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg greets her son Natan in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg talks with her son Natan in a park in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan, the son of Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, sits on a swing in a park in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Michele Gershberg's son Natan is pictured at age one in New York, U.S. May 21, 2014. Picture taken May 21, 2014. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Michele Gershberg

Natan, the son of Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, plays in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan is pushed on a swing by his mother, Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, in a park in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan, the son of Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, works on his homework in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Dr. Matthias Karajannis speaks during an interview with Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg about her son at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, U.S., November 27, 2018. Picture taken November 27, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Natan is given his medication from his mother, Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., November 19, 2018. Picture taken November 19, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Dr. Matthias Karajannis speaks during an interview with Reuters' U.S. Health Editor Michele Gershberg about her son at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, U.S., November 27, 2018. Picture taken November 27, 2018. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Michele Gershberg's son Natan is pictured at age four in New York, U.S. March 12, 2017. Picture taken March 12, 2017. To match Special Report GENOMICS-TUMOR/ REUTERS/Michele Gershberg

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Emeritus Professor Qiu Renzong speaks to the media during International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Aleksander Solum

Scientist He Jiankui attends the International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Holly Chik

The logo of iCarbonX, a start up company focusing on combining genomics with other health factors to create a digitalized form of life, is displayed in their office in Shenzhen, China May 25, 2018. REUTERS/Bobby Yip