Coronavirus gene findings are no cause for alarm, says leading scientist
- MIT’s Rudolf Jaenisch found that the coronavirus may be able to insert its genes into human DNA, but says there is no evidence that mRNA vaccines do the same
- He says the findings should not be used to support anti-vax arguments and says that even if they are found to affect human genes it would be a good thing
A leading biologist whose team recently discovered that the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 may be able to insert its genes into human DNA has said there is no cause for alarm over vaccines that mimic the process of infection.
The discovery by Professor Rudolf Jaenisch and researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stirs up a hornet’s nest because mRNA vaccines, including those made by Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna, operate in similar ways to the virus to trigger an immune response.
But he said there is “absolutely no evidence” that these vaccines would alter human DNA.
Jaenisch, a pioneer in the field of transgenics, added that if they are found to do so it may actually be a good thing, saying: “One could speculate that such an integration, if indeed happening, might result in more long-term expression of the antigen [a substance that causes the immune system to create antibodies] and thus be beneficial.”
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Though some researchers said the finding was unexpected and could fundamentally change our understanding of the virus, Jaenisch said it should not be used as an argument against vaccination.
The mRNA vaccines only use parts of the virus’ genes known as messenger RNA, not the whole sequence. Because these gene segments do not include components that are important for viral functions, adverse effects such as triggering unwanted mutations should be minimal.