Nels and Vincent explain a method to calculate the mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2, and the role of a single amino acid change in spike in enhancing fitness of the delta variant and enabling it to out-compete the alpha variant. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 mutation rate (Genome Biology Evolution) Delta spike change enhances fitness (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Leading Edge Symposium Vincent – Epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Listener Pick Thomas – The gene’s-eye view of evolution by J. Arvid Ågren Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv