Phylogenetic analyses shows SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 originated in the UK The emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has marked a new phase in the COVID-19 pandemic. Phylogenetic and epidemiological investigations suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 genetic lineage B.1.1.7 may be associated with increased viral transmissibility among humans. It was also classified as a "Variant of Concern" (VOC B.1.1.7) in December 2020. First discovered in Kent, United Kingdom, in September 2020, this new variant has since been found in more than 29 countries across the globe, including the USA. Using phylodynamic methods to study the origins of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage In a recent