Scientists at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) have succeeded in decoding the entire genome sequence of the novel coronavirus and have identified its three new mutations.
GBRC has now become the second institute in the country after Pune’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) to decode the entire genome sequence of the virus.
As per reports, the Gandhinagar based institute has found a total of nine mutations in the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus.
“The first genome sequence of the COVID-19 virus was found by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Bejing on January 10. It was made public by China. After that, the GBRC has also done it here,” said Gujarat Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi.
“However, six of the mutations were already found by other research institutes around the world. Three mutations, out of the total nine found by the GBRC, are new and it will help in determining how the virus is changing in our conditions,” she added.
The institute, which has identified the genome sequence from a sample of a COVID-19 patient is further working to establish genome sequences from other samples of the virus.
Researchers are of the view that the studies of the genome sequences will help in the development of medicines or vaccines required for the treatment of coronavirus which has claimed 452 lives in India so far.
India on Friday reported 13835 coronavirus cases which include 11616 active cases and 1766 cured or discharged.
