TNPSC Thervupettagam

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID)

April 11 , 2020 1692 days 873 0
  • India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). 
  • All these have been shared by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology.
  • Early in March, India became the fifth country in the world to sequence the genome of the novel Coronavirus, or Covid-19.
  • With 621, the U.S. has shared the most number of sequences, followed by the U.K. (350), Belgium (253) and China (242).
  • The CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology), CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology) are working on genome sequencing of COVID-19.
  • Genomic sequencing is a technique that allows us to read and interpret genetic information found within DNA or RNA.
  • It is being done to understand the evolution of the virus.
  • Sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2 will help understand
    • Where the virus came from.
    • If there are different strains circulating in India.
    • How the virus has spread.
  • GISAID is a public platform started by the WHO in 2008 for countries to share genome sequences.
  • In 2010 the Federal Republic of Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.

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