sequencing

UK’s virus sequencing labs haven’t detected any cases in a fortnight of South African strain

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No new cases of the South African Covid variant have been spotted in Britain over the past fortnight, in a glimmer of hope that the highly-contagious mutation has not yet taken root in the country.  Two infections with the mutant form of Covid had been identified on British soil by December 23, Health Secretary Matt … Read more

How Britain shot itself in the foot being the ‘best in the world’ at sequencing viruses

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By David Churchill What has happened to the coronavirus to trigger such concern? A new strain of Covid has developed which is said to spread far faster. A ‘strain’ is a new version of a virus which has genetic mutations. The new strain is a version of Sars-Cov-2, the coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19. … Read more

Genome sequencing traces likely roots of White House coronavirus strain

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Scientists have sequenced the genome of a coronavirus strain that likely infected President Trump and dozens of his advisers and others with whom he came into contact.  It comes after the White House deemed the source of President Trump’s infection ‘unknowable,’ and refused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) offer to assist in … Read more

Genetic sequencing data map shows how London became coronavirus hub

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A fascinating video shows how London became a hub for the global spread of coronavirus after the initial outbreak in China. Scientists have used genetic sequencing data to illustrate how different strands of the virus travelled to the UK via the capital and how it was passed on to other countries. The map, produced by … Read more