A QUANTUM OF SCIENCE
How do scientists around the world collaborate rapidly in real time when a pandemic looms?
Today marks a departure from the established format of longer, more detailed essays with the first "quantum" post designed to provide a short, sweet snapshot of a small corner of Science. The intent of such quantum posts is to give readers tools to make use of on their own to extend their knowledge of the cutting edge of science and technology.
Today's quantum is the Human/Swine A/H1N1 Influenza Origins and Evolution project: a wiki site maintained by Oliver Pybus of Oxford University and Andrew Rambaut of the University of Edinburgh. The purpose of this wiki is to provide a place for scientists around the world to post and discuss the genetic sequences of H1N1 influenza strains they have isolated and characterized. Based on these sequences, scientists can build a more accurate picture of where the flu virus is spreading and - most importantly - how fast it is mutating... in real time. This is key because a mutation that increases virulence could make the difference between a regular annual flu season and a global pandemic.
Of particular note: the phylogeography link has a great discussion of how fast different strains of the virus are spreading, and where. This ties in nicely with the phylogenetic analysis of the virus, a look at the genetic history of H1N1 as it has spread over time.
© AQOS / Peter Smalley (2009)
Reproduction with attribution is appreciation
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