THIS is in response to the news item “‘KU team ‘carries out whole genome sequencing of coronavirus’” (April 1). I congratulate Prof Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhary for carrying out first indigenous whole genome sequencing of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) at Karachi University.

I hope this will pave the way toward finding an effective formula to control the deadly virus which has threatened and sickened people around the world. I am sure the KU effort will initiate the synthesis of a targeted drug for treatment.

I also congratulate Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed and his team. Indeed separation of human genome from viral genome is a challenging task because nitrogenous bases, I understand, from any living thing are the same may it be virus, bacteria or human.

In spite of nine mutations found in the DNA of coronavirus, no mutation was identified in protein and enzyme as a result. How surprising it is — although mutation can also occur in nitrogenous bases owing to their wrong pairing, or may be point mutation as far as I know.

I am afraid the virus might entirely be a mutated progeny of flu virus. It is also not known whether it is DNA virus or RNA like HIV virus.

I hope the sequencing of more genome from different parts of the country will unveil the way it exhibits, and finally its true spectrum will help us get rid of its occurrence.

Dr M. Qudrat-e-Khuda
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2020