Detailed knowledge about microbiology and genetics also means that smaller variations are found more often. A new variant of this strain might not be "the most

Detailed knowledge about microbiology and genetics also means that smaller variations are found more often. A new variant of this strain might not be "the most interesting news of the day" unless you are a scientists working with the virus, but think about it: a hundred years ago most doctors could not tell if you had the flu or the rona, due to similar macroscopic symptoms, yet for a geneticist those are as related as a human and a fish. Personally if find "nigerian cdc can sequence viral rna and detect new variants" is good news. Shows that the gap is closing.