Some of the equipment has been donated by BGI's philanthropic arm, promoted by China's embassies in an extension of China's virus diplomacy. But in the case of genetic data, officials and scientists say the risks are that it could be weaponized. This year, BGI Genomics told investors that it had cost $95 million to sequence a whole human genome in 2001. After the first lab opened, coordinator Jelena Begovic told Reuters in May that DNA sequencers help researchers by linking genetic information on the virus with genetic information on the patient. SECURITY APPARATUSBGI's pandemic push comes as tensions between China and the United States are mounting, including over China's genetic programme.

Source: Mint August 05, 2020 11:37 UTC