COVID-19 Genetics | Science News 2.1

I want to answer your questions about the genetics of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. I'm a geneticist, and feel like this is the part of the science that I can try and help communicate. Leave your questions in the comments below, and we'll talk about them together this Friday at noon PST.

Well. I wanted this week’s 2-part science news video to be about a new CRISPR study, but instead, I just think it makes the most sense to talk about the genetics of COVID-19.

Let’s start with some basics. In their simplest form, viruses have two main parts: their genetic material, which could be DNA or RNA, and some kind of protein package that holds the genetic material. COVID-19 is an RNA virus. This means that the genetic material inside of it is stored as RNA, not DNA. And for COVID-19, that RNA is found within a nucleocapsid protein structure, which is inside of a lipid membrane envelope. That envelope is covered in spike proteins, which are what give the coronaviruses their name--they look a bit like a crown or corona.

To replicate, it must infect a host cell and hijack that cell’s replication and protein production machinery. Those spike proteins on the outside of the virus are what attach to receptors in the cells of your lungs, ACE2 receptors. The virus then fuses its membrane with the cell’s membrane and releases its RNA into the cell. This is where it takes advantage of that cell’s machinery to make more RNA and more of its capsid and envelope proteins.

Other Resources:
Using genetics to track how it spreads:

A special thank you to my Patreon patrons. I'm pretty sure videos about this can't be monetized right now, so you are truly my heroes helping me to do what I do. This of course includes my helicases:
Marcel Ward
Russ Determan
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Tim Rhodes
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Brad
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Twitter: @AlexDainis
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[AlexDainisPhD]

Important naming clarification that was *not* clear in this video: The virus itself is called SARS-CoV-2, and the disease that it causes is called COVID-19. I will reiterate this in the livestream to try and keep everything straight.

[AronFiechter]

I'd love to hear about the test kits themselves, about whether they are hard to manufacture and about how it would be possible to make more tests to more people.
Stay safe!

[boostbeetle]

Thank you for the information and look forward to the livestream. Notable moment of both seriousness and tenderness, the "go forth, do science" as "stay put, and wash your hands" was a wonderful, heartwarming, and heavy touch that solidified the gravity more than most things.

[calebcragle]

I have used your videos in my biology class for years!! My students and I will be tuning in Friday :) Thank you!!

[anoopvailedath]

It's such great news to be informed about the virus by a geneticist! I'm so glad I subscribed to your channel, Alex! Will definitely stay tuned for the livestream :)

[elliottmcollins]

"Stay put & Wash your hands". Loving the new tag line.
Would love to hear about how exactly a test for a specific virus works. Still seems like magic to me.

[hjvela]

Hi Alex, I´m Henry, thanks for your video. What is the best sequence or region to use for diagnostic for covid-19 and why?
I´m gona use Orf1ab and N y a multiplex PCR Kit. What do you think.
Thank you, from Lima

[zayyaphonepyaih]

You're doing a really grand job on explaining all these confusing subjects in simple words. Thanks for enlightening us ! Cheers.

[joshmyer]

What's this thing: a test protocol for viruses. I'm super curious how this kind of test works, and the logistics of sharing them with other labs/scientists. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and creating more brain power in the world!

[bhavyathakur]

Hi Alex, I have question regarding SARSCoV2 gene sequence, I wanted to find out specific gene sequence i.e antisense for diagnostic purpose, how much base pair will be fine? Thank you

[Bewleys_]

I really appreciate the clarity on these videos on between what you do know and do not claim to know/be an authority figure about. From the point of view from a uni student trapped in their very small dorm room.

Cheers.

[ralfriend]

I am really interested about all what you said i hope if you just extend the video series to 3 or 4 parts to talk more about the three topics that you mentioned because it's very interesting
thanks

[littleochoa]

Alex, First I would like to thank you for your amazing videos. I really don’t have a question but maybe a suggestion.

I’ve homeschooled my daughter for 8 years and from time to time I’ve used your videos to spark her interests. With a good amount of kids being home from school. This might give you an amazing opportunity to make some Science 101 video for kids. Thank you for all that you do! You are inspiring so many little girls.

Go forth, wash your hands and do science!

[thechronicles]

Hey I just wanted to say ive been watching for years and I love your videos

[LifeMelody]

I would like to know more about the vaccines being developed. What type of vaccines are they? And how reliable would you expect them to be and for how long? How mutable is the virus compared to other viruses like the seasonal flu, for example, and how would this pandemic evolve in the future given the nature of the viral genome we are dealing with. Also what is the molecular mechanism through which the virus infects the body? How is it for other corona viruses?

Thank you! Love from Europe. I watched your last live stream while doing a FISH on my transgenic Drosophila embryos. I love your videos and how relatable your journey feels to me (I am also here to learn...the hard way).

Go forth, do science!

[hfelippejr]

Hi, Alex. I've looked up the NYTime's infographic and, just out of curiosity, what are the timescales we're talking about? From the time it takes the virus to attach, replicate its RNA and destroy the cell? (I tried but couldn't find the answer.) Thank you.

[leaf]

I’d love to review different “strains” of the virus. How many are there, how do they differ and if there’s any health relevance to the differences

[judefrancisco]

Keep up the good work Alex. All of your videos are informative. Please don't stop creating amazing videos.

[valleybay]

Thank you for this video, Dr. Alex!
I caught some info briefly in passing in an online discussion where I only now vaguely recall the claim was made that PCR testing for "Rona" (Covid-19) is not necessarily reliable since the test simply looks for a DNA/RNA sequence that Rona has, but we have as well. I've spent several minutes trying to find a credible paper on that (in layman's terms) but haven't found one yet.
So can you settle this by explaining how the PCR test is able to distinguish Rona's RNA sequence from a matching sequence in the human genome?

[designstudiods]

I'm not into this field. Out of curiosity and few conspiracies about COVID19, I'm asking this question. Is there any chance for an uninfected patient to show positive RT PCR result?