Mapmygenome, a genomics company offering personalized health solutions based on genetic tests, has joined hands with Apollo Clinic to offer DNA-based tests that give risk and immunity reports. These tests include screening for health & wellness and ancestry testing during the Covid-19 pandemic, for understanding genetic predispositions of people to know why some people suffer more than others, understand how the virus mutates, and come up with new drug targets. It helps to come up with new vaccines like the mRNA, DNA vaccines, etc, and design reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, a method for detecting the presence of specific genetic material in any pathogen, including a virus.
“Researchers across the globe have been studying the viral genome to understand its mechanism of action and to find possible ways to stop the spread. Genomics has proven to be a valuable tool in Covid diagnostics and testing,” says Anu Acharya, CEO, Mapmygenome. Apart from RT-PCR and pooled-sampling methods, even gene targeting and editing technology find application in Covid diagnostics. Researchers are using this technology to learn about the interaction between viral and human cells to create cell models that can expedite the development of new treatments. Covid-19 treatment can be personalized with genetic screening, by testing for biomarkers that affect drug response for efficacy and toxicity. After identifying treatment plans, the next step, drug target screening, also has a genomics component. Genomic epidemiology is another application that gives us real-time data about the pandemic across the globe.
