Canadian scientists have succeeded in breaking the genetic code of the virus suspected of causing SARS. This is the first step towards developing a diagnosis test or, in the future, a vaccine for the disease.
Doctor Marco Marra, director of the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, says the new information will explain whether SARS resembles other viral genomes, and provide biological clues about the virus.
The genetic sequence was posted on the internet (www.bcgsc.bc.ca) for use by other scientists around the world immediately after it was discovered last weekend.
Earlier last week, scientists reported that SARS is most likely caused by a virulent new coronavirus, the type of virus that causes influenza.
(People’s Daily April 15, 2003)
