A team of local scientists has successfully put together the first genetic fingerprint – or genome sequence – of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars)-Covid-2 found in South Africa. Spotlight spoke to two of the scientists to learn more.
A worker in a protective suit examines specimens inside a laboratory following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Picture taken February 6, 2020. China Daily via ReutersA team of local scientists has successfully put together the first genetic fingerprint – or genome sequence – of severe acute respiratory syndrome -Covid-2 found in South Africa.
DNA is our genetic material, or basically the book containing all of our traits , while RNA is the messenger between our DNA and the protein factories in our cells called ribosomes.The RNA, or messenger RNA , takes information from our DNA in the nucleus straight to the ribosomes, which are in the cytoplasm in our cells.
After the sequencing is finished, scientists have to assemble the sequence to construct the 29 000 base-letter RNA strand of the virus. “The World Health Organisation and the Africa CDC labs have asked [the NICD] to sequence some genomes from African countries that don’t have these technologies,” said Allam.
This tree can help scientists better understand where each of these genomes come from and how they are related. Van Heusden said: “Differences seen in the collection on Gisaid are minor, less than 100 bases across the whole 29 kilobase genome. There have been some more dramatic differences noted, such as deletions in parts of the genome, but these mostly seem to be related to culturing the virus in cells.”
Taking all of this into consideration, with the available data, Van Heusden said scientists were confident that currently no other strain of Sars-Covid-2 existed globally.“The genomics let us understand the virus’ proteins,” explained Van Heusden. “We can understand the life cycle, though it’s not strictly alive, and we can understand the way that its proteins work and interact with our proteins, and that is important for [treatment] therapies.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Covid-19 in SA: Should we be having sex during lockdown?We have been banned from buying our favourite foods, going out and enjoying South Africa’s beauty, walking our dog, buying alcohol and cigarettes. So the question is what about sex?
Read more »
Covid-19 affects the poor more than others, and even more so in SAIn the US and the UK, people of colour have less wealth and, so, access to healthcare; imagine how much worse it is for SA’s poorest, write Kevin Allan and Karen Heese
Read more »
World’s deepest mines to take weeks to reopen after SA Covid-19 shutdownRamping up production at the world’s deepest mines could take three to four weeks as thousands of returning employees are screened for Covid-19, according to Johan Theron, a spokesperson for Impala Platinum
Read more »
SA brainiacs design new ventilators to use in Covid-19 fightSeveral tertiary institutions have roped in their students' and staff's knowledge in order to create alternatives to expensive and rare ventilators, by re-engineering WW2 models, and by creating entirely new concepts for under R5,000.
Read more »
Five more Covid-19 deaths in SA, nearly 100 new casesThe number of South Africans to have died of Covid-19 has increased to 18.
Read more »
Five more Covid-19 deaths in SA, nearly 100 new casesIn a statement, minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said that there had been five additional deaths confirmed since he released the figures at an event on Tuesday.
Read more »