Alarmed over increasing Covid-19 cases and in preparation for the expected third wave of the pandemic, the has decided to have its owngenomesequencing facility to study various strains of viruses. The genome sequencing centre, to come up at SMS Medical College, will initially sequence 20 samples per day and soon increase it to 60 samples.
Human genomes are made of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), a virus genome can be made of either DNA or RNA (Ribonucleic acid). DNA and RNA provide genetic instructions for Growth and functioning of organisms. Coronavirus is made of RNA. Genome sequencing is a technique that reads and interprets genetic information found within DNA or RNA.