UK variant hunters lead global race to stay ahead of COVID
The Cambridge University microbiologist understood that genomic sequencing would be crucial in tracking the disease, controlling outbreaks and developing vaccines. Genomic sequencing is essentially the process of mapping the unique genetic makeup of individual organisms โ in this case the virus that causes COVID-19. Behind that growth is a system that links the science of genomic sequencing with the resources of Britain's national health care system. The importance of genomic sequencing became obvious late last year as the number of new infections began to spike in southeastern England. But COG-UKโS work, combined with Britainโs size and high number of cases, have made it the world leader in sequencing COVID-19.
โThe whole house is a total lossโ: Houston family displaced after cooking mishap causes fire, officials say
Just after Thanksgiving, a Houston family of five was forced to flee their home after it was destroyed in an early morning fire, officials with the Houston Fire Department said. The fire sparked just before 3 a.m. on Friday in the kitchen of a home on Southwind Street and Forrestal Street in southeast Houston, according to authorities. Later, she saw the flames and got everyone out of the house. โThe whole house is a total loss,โ Watson said. Watson said Red Cross is providing assistance to the family.