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UK researchers to study genes of COVID-19 patients to try to crack morbidity

WION Web Team
London, London, UK (Great Britain)Updated: May 13, 2020, 06:22 PM IST
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Photograph:(Reuters)

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Scientists caution that their knowledge of the novel coronavirus, which emerged in China last year, is still modest though they say it is striking how it can be so deadly for some but so mild for others.

British researchers are set to study the genes of COVID-19 patients to try to crack one of the most harrowing questions -- why does it kill some people but give others not even a mild headache?

Researchers from across the United Kingdom will sequence the genetic code of people who fell critically ill -- up to 20,000 people currently or previously in hospital intensive care with COVID-19 -- and compare their genomes with those who were mildly ill or not ill at all -- about 15,000 people.

Scientists caution that their knowledge of the novel coronavirus, which emerged in China last year, is still modest though they say it is striking how it can be so deadly for some but so mild for others.

Some answers could come as soon as in a few weeks from a study of almost 2,000 people already underway, though it is likely that testing more people will ensure that the signals they detect are genuine.

The results will be shared globally.