Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates A new study led by Scripps Research Institute has shown that the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, is of natural origin and not engineered in a laboratory.
The conclusion was made by analysing public genome sequence data from SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses. Findings from the study have been published in the Nature Medicine journal.
Scripps Research immunology and microbiology associate professor Kristian Andersen said: “By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes.” Researchers studied the genetic template for spike proteins,