Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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The Wuhan Institute of Virology was said to have conducted gain-of-function research on coronaviruses which may possibly have caused the lab-leak origin of the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19 pandemic).
Important points:
- In virology, gain-of-function research involves deliberately altering an organism in the lab, altering a gene, or introducing a mutation in a pathogen to study its transmissibility, virulence and immunogenicity.
- This is done by genetically engineering the virus and by allowing them to grow in different growth mediums, a technique called serial passage.
- Serial Passage refers to the process of growing bacteria or a virus in iterations. For instance, a virus may be grown in one environment, and then a portion of that virus population can be removed, and put into a new environment.
Significance:
- This would allow researchers to study potential therapies and ways to control the disease better in future.
- Gain-of-function studies, which enhance viral yield and immunogenicity (relating to immune response), are required for vaccine development.
- Gain-of-function research involves manipulations that make certain pathogenic microbes more deadly or more transmissible.
- There is also ‘loss-of-function’ research, which involves inactivating mutations, resulting in a significant loss of original function, or no function to the pathogen.
- When mutations occur, they alter the structure of the virus, resulting in altered functions which might weaken the virus or enhance its function.
- Gain-of-function research reportedly carry inherent biosafety and biosecurity risks and are thus referred to as ‘dual-use research of concern’ (DURC).
- This indicates that while the research may result in benefits for humanity, there is also the potential to cause harm — accidental or deliberate escape of these altered pathogens from labs may even cause pandemics (Like it is said to be in case of Covid-19).
- All activities related to genetically engineered organisms or cells and hazardous microorganisms and products are regulated as per the “Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules, 1989”.
- In 2020, the Department of Biotechnology issued guidelines for the establishment of containment facilities, called ‘Biosafety labs’.
- The notification provides operational guidance on the containment of biohazards and levels of biosafety that all institutions involved in research, development and handling of these microorganisms must comply with.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT
