SARS

            
            
            
            
             Study of SARS Genome Shows No Big Mutations.
             The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is continuing to spread across different countries and it is highly advised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to take proper precautions not to travel to certain areas of China such as Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and to the Taiwan province, Taipei. The purpose of WHO is to protect international public health and to prevent or reduce further global spread. Dr. Edison Liu, from Singapore's Genome Project is studying the genetic make-up of culture SARS viruses from five different sources using isolation. .
             Human coronaviruses have a high rate of genetic mutations. If SARS was showing signs of these mutations, it could mean that the virus could permanently change genes. The alarming question with such mutations is that it could be extremely harmful and produce genetic disorders. Scientists suggest that SARS has been well adapted to resisting attack by the human immune system; therefore it is not evolving rapidly. The stability of the virus may also mean that any vaccine developed could be effective against SARS for long periods of time.