Question: Have there been any recent genetic discoveries that you think could help solve this pandemic and others

Chris Watt answered on 20 May 2020:

Hi Jack! The study of genetics is very important in epidemics and pandemics. The test that is used to tell if people have the virus is a genetic test (RNA) and understanding the genetic code of the virus is very important for developing a vaccine. There are also lots of different studies occurring right now to see why some people are more severely affected by the virus than others, by looking at people’s DNA to check for differences. This information can be used to help us understand more about the disease, and this can be useful when finding treatments and therapies.