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Q.3) What is genomic sequencing and how it could help in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic? Suggest the steps India need to take to use genomic sequencing in curbing the pandemic. (10 marks)

Written by

Swatantra

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“Mentor’s Comments”

  • https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/bring-genomic-sequencing-into-the-pandemic-fight/article34764517.ece
  • In the intro, mention that mutations in virus make any efforts at containing pandemic a difficult task.
  • In the body explain the importance of genomic sequencing and how it could help in detecting the changes in virus and its implications for containing the pandemic and its spread. Mention the setting up of INSACOG in India and low level of sequencing in India and its consequences for the country. In the steps, suggest scaling up genomic sequencing across the states, supporting investment and operational research, changes in vaccine policy keeping in mind the reduced vaccine effectiveness and immune escape etc.
  • Conclude by mentioning that the data from genomic sequencing has both policy and operational implications and so needs to be due consideration.

Comments

37 responses to “Q.3) What is genomic sequencing and how it could help in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic? Suggest the steps India need to take to use genomic sequencing in curbing the pandemic. (10 marks)”

  1. Vishal Nagle Avatar
    Vishal Nagle

    Ref id 422329
    Please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vishal

      Don’t use the term Indian variant, use delta or the number. Rest of the answer is good, mention about steps taken till now such as formation of INSACOG etc.

      Also in the beginning you can link the disastrous 2nd wave to lack of genome sequencing. Proper genome sequencing could have equipped us with the knowledge of new mutants and about its higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      Steps that should be taken is written well, just mention one point about how we need to ramp up genome sequencing across all states and high load urban agglomerations.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  2. subhashree mallick Avatar
    subhashree mallick

    pay_HH1EGxOD3EGEhl

    1. subhashree mallick Avatar
      subhashree mallick

      pls revie @swatantra sir

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Subhashree

      In the beginning you can link the disastrous 2nd wave to lack of genome sequencing. Proper genome sequencing could have equipped us with the knowledge of new mutants and about its higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      Content of the answer is good, in the conclusion mention how genome sequencing and knowledge of new mutants can help us decide the vaccine policy.

      Your answer is good but link it with covid pandemic and how it can help us in covid specifically.

      Keep writing. 🙂

  3. Anupam Singh Avatar
    Anupam Singh

    Refid# 422544

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Anupam

      Please go through the article attached above, you will get some more specific points related to the question.

      What you have written is quite generic, mention about how we suffered due to lack of proper genome sequencing, what steps India has taken and what steps could India take further to improve the situation.

      Take help of the mentor’s comments and the article.

      Please understand what the question is asking instead of writing whatever you know.

      Keep writing. 🙂

  4. Utkarsha Yadav Avatar
    Utkarsha Yadav

    Please review
    Payment Id pay_HHWzC2O9xhkaqA

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Utkarsha

      Yes you can use figures from past 2-3 months to explain your point. Until and unless the question is specifically asking the present data, it should be fine.

      Coming to this answer, it is pretty good. You have covered most of the dimensions asked.

      In the beginning you can link the disastrous 2nd wave to lack of genome sequencing. Proper genome sequencing could have equipped us with the knowledge of new mutants and about its higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      In this question however, vaccination comparison of India-US is not required, genome sequencing is not the reason behind it. So you can avoid, make relevant graphs, it will be good value addition.

      Rest of the points you have covered. Keep practicing.

  5. ankita thakur Avatar
    ankita thakur

    Payment id-HJHAZEWKSzM3CX

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Ankita

      You have written well, most parts of the question are covered.

      For the first part, you can link lack of genome sequencing in India to the disastrous 2nd wave. How the new mutant caused increased transmissibility, breakthrough infections etc. These points will emphasize upon how genome sequencing can help in dealing with the pandemic.

      Rest of the answer is good. Just the first part about how genome sequencing helps in pandemic is missing, you can also get some points from the article.

      Keep writing. Read some other answers. 🙂

  6. vamsidhar namburi Avatar
    vamsidhar namburi

    #0000422551
    please review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vamsidhar

      Answer is good, try to finish with a conclusion how genome sequencing can help in deciding vaccine policy etc.

      Write full form of A,G,C etc otherwise leave it, writing base pairs will do.

      Also in the beginning you can link the disastrous 2nd wave to lack of genome sequencing. Proper genome sequencing could have equipped us with the knowledge of new mutants and about its higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      Answer is well presented with sub-headings, that is good. Keep it up. 🙂

  7. SUMITA DOWERAH Avatar
    SUMITA DOWERAH

    Payment Id: pay HFrdyJMOEZ9967. Please review, Sir.

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sumita

      Well written answer. You have addressed the key points asked in the question.

      However, there are more than thousands covid variants, don’t write 10.

      Also link lack of genome sequencing with the pandemic in India- about the new variant’s higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      Read some other answers also. Keep writing. 🙂

  8. Kartikey Singh Avatar
    Kartikey Singh

    pay_HHogiMPYpQ87sC

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Kartikey

      You have explained pretty well. Both parts of the question is answered properly.

      You can expand a bit on the steps taken by India till now. You have mentioned INSACOG but written nothing about it.

      In the introduction you can link the lack of genome sequencing to Covid 2nd wave in India – just to give a current affairs perspective. Linking with current affairs is always good in answer.

      Nice attempt. Keep writing. 🙂

  9. deepika annamalai Avatar
    deepika annamalai

    Please review sir.. payment ID – HIWaoP4yYMjmlq

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Deepika

      Please scan the image and then upload or zoom it before clicking. It is very hard to read otherwise.

      INSACOG is not a group of companies, it consists of labs which are researching on various variants, avoid such mistakes.

      After introduction you can mention the effects of lack of genome sequencing in India till now- new variant’s higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections- one of the reasons for dangerous covid 2nd wave.

      You have written good points in steps taken, mention a way forward and conclude with how genome sequencing can even help us in deciding our vaccine policy.

      Nice attempt, keep writing. 🙂

  10. Mradul sharma Avatar
    Mradul sharma

    id- #0000422539

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Mradul

      Well written answer. Keep it up.

      Don’t mention UK variant, South Africa variant etc. Mentioning codes will do or you can use alpha, delta etc

      Also in steps taken by India, try to address the problems also, low sample collection, lack of funding in research, no data sharing with each other etc

      Rest of the answer is good, keep writing. 🙂

  11. Dr. House Avatar
    Dr. House

    REF ID: #0000425733
    Please review @Swatantra Sir

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Dr House

      Well written answer. Keep it up.

      In the steps needed to be taken add ramping up of genome sequencing across all states and specially in high load urban agglomerations.

      Also, it will help in rethinking or adjusting the vaccine policy, you can mention this in conclusion.

      Rest of the points mentioned are very good.

      Keep writing. 🙂

  12. Sonal Sharma Avatar
    Sonal Sharma

    #0000422288
    Kindly review

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sonal

      Very good answer. Keep it up. You have covered all the dimensions of the question. Not much scope of improvement in this one, you can add more points if it is asked in a 15 marker, otherwise no need.

      Keep writing.:)

  13. Rohan Sinha Avatar
    Rohan Sinha

    Order id – #0000420396
    @swatantra

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Rohan

      Well written answer, that is good. Keep it up.

      ln the steps taken by India till now, mention what INSACOG is and also try to address the problems – low sample collection, lack of funding in research, no data sharing with each other etc

      Also in introduction you can link genome sequencing with dangerous covid 2nd wave- higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections.

      Rest of the points are good.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

      4.5/10

  14. Arpit Singh Avatar
    Arpit Singh

    Payment id HHU8LODcXby9Db

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Arpit

      In the introduction you can link genome sequencing with dangerous covid 2nd wave- higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections – that will emphasize its importance.

      Also write steps taken by India till now like formation of INSACOG and what have been the problems- low sample collection, lack of funding in research, no data sharing with each other etc

      Rest of the answer is fine. Steps mentioned are good.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing 🙂

  15. Vivek H Avatar
    Vivek H

    Payment Id : 115213946268

    1. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vivek

      We need to genome sequence the virus, so start the answer in a better way, you can link the lack of genome sequencing with the dangerous Covid 2nd wave- higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections – that will emphasize its importance.

      Also mention about the formation of INSACOG in steps taken by India till now.

      You have addressed the 2nd part but I think you could write the first part better about how genome sequencing helps in Covid.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  16. Sushmita Avatar
    Sushmita

    Payment Id: pay_HHNZ7RGmO4BG6P

    1. Sushmita Avatar
      Sushmita

      Please review

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Sushmita,

      You have written well. You can mention 1-2 lines about INSACOG and the problems in India’s approach till now- lack of funding for research, low number of samples collected, no sharing of data etc

      You have addressed almost all points asked in the question, that is good. Points are also good.

      Read some other answers. Keep writing. 🙂

  17. Vishnu Agrawal Avatar
    Vishnu Agrawal

    Order id: 0000422561
    @swatantra sir please review. Sorry for late uploading.

    1. Vishnu Agrawal Avatar
      Vishnu Agrawal

      Answers attached.

    2. Swatantra Avatar
      Swatantra

      Vishnu

      In the introduction you can link genome sequencing with dangerous covid 2nd wave- higher transmissibility, immune escape and breakthrough infections – that will emphasize its importance.

      Also mention INSACOG , also write about the need to ramp up sample collection across all states and high load urban agglomerations specifically.

      Also no need to write names of countries with variants, you can use alpha,delta if you want.

      Rest of the answer is good. Points are fine. Keep writing. 🙂

      4.5/10

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