"It is highly likely that future COVID-19 strains will remain detectable because our tests – and most other COVID-19 tests – look for parts of the virus that are crucial for the virus’ survival and therefore less subject to mutation.[Emphasis mine]" - Statement purportedly made by Abbot in regard to their BinaxNOW COVID-19 Home Test. (https://www.cvs.com/shop/abbott-binaxnow-covid-19-antigen-self-test-2-tests-for-serial-testing-prodid-550147)
"Mutations are alterations in DNA sequences that result in changes in the structure of a gene. Both small and large DNA alterations can occur spontaneously. Treatment with ionizing radiation or various chemical agents increases the frequency of mutations." - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21578/)
Mutations are random and for all intents and purposes by chance since no detectable pattern of operation or mechanism to regulate mutations has been found.
Exactly which proteins are not crucial to the virus' survival? This makes no sense, since that statement states that the proteins crucial to the survival of the virus are less subject to mutation, does that imply that the spike protein of the virus will not readily mutate, since it is extremely crucial to the survival of the virus which is dependent upon the use of the host cell's replicating machinery? Aren't we being led to believe that the new variants have mutations that are making the virus more virulent (more efficient mechanism to enter the cells) and therefore more able to survive in the population? (insert Biden's inappropriate prophecy) "...prepare ourselves for the next pandemic, for there will be another one...as a more virulent and dangerous variants take hold." (https://youtu.be/TqFcwfV2s8Y) This seems to be double-speak.
It's always the story of infectious diseases (in our case viruses) that the variants are less virulent. - paraphrased - Professor Christian Perronne (https://rumble.com/vl44r8-frances-long-time-vaccine-policy-chief-covid-policy-is-completely-stupid-an.html)
To me, this statement by Prof. Perronne suggests that the mechanisms allowing the virus to enter the cells becomes less effective, which is directly acting against the survivability of the virus in the population. If I understand it correctly, the 'crucial' proteins for viruses survival are the ones allowing it to be more virulent (more readily access the cell's replicating machinery). Those evidently are the proteins that are showing the unfavorable mutation, resulting in less virulence.