Report: Houston Scientists Found Genome Of Zika Virus From Mosquito
The researchers from Houston have found complete genome of the mosquito that carries the Zika virus. The new technique that significantly lessens the cost and the time it takes to solve genetic mysteries.
According to Houston Chronicle, the research report published Thursday in the journal Science. In the journal, the researchers demonstrate how they were able to stitch together thousands of DNA fragments from the Aedes mosquito by using a technique known as a 3D assembly.
The researchers hope, with the method they can assemble a complete genome sequence from scratch of about $10,000 in a matter of weeks. The Human Genome Project lasted about 10 years and $4 billion to sequence a genome from scratch, or de novo, as it is called.
PHYS has reported, by 3D genome assembly, the scientists have assembled the 1.2 billion letter genome of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries Zika virus. The new genome will enable scientists to better combat the Zika outbreak by identifying vulnerabilities in the mosquito that uses to spread Zika virus.
Human genomes include 6 billion chemical letters, called based pairs that divided up among 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chromosomes can be hundreds of millions base pair long, that's mean determining the sequencing can be incredibly time-consuming and expensive.
The advances in technology have brought down the cost of DNA sequencing. The only way to use those short reads is to compare them to an existing reference genome. The human genomes differ from one another, the use of reference genome does not tell a person's complete picture.
A few years back, Erez Aiden's team at Baylor figured out how the 6.5-foot-long genome folds to fit inside the nucleus of a cell. The research team has also used 3D assembly to construct from scratch the genome of the Culex mosquito that spreads the West Nile virus.
However, both mosquitos' genetic makeup helps scientists trying to find the new way to stop the spread of the disease. Scientists are on the way to find the new path of discovery.
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