Study of twins reveals genetic effect on Covid-19 symptoms

[Mike 03]

The Guardian
Nicola Davis
Mon 27 Apr 2020 06.32 EDT Last modified on Mon 27 Apr 2020 06.47 EDT

Scientists find genetic factors explain 50% of differences between people’s symptoms

Symptoms of Covid-19 appear to be partly down to genetic makeup, researchers at King’s College London have discovered.

The finding is based on data collected through the Covid-19 Symptom Tracker app, launched by the team last month.

While members of the public are encouraged to use the app to track how they feel day to day, the team also asked thousands of twins in the UK, who were already part of another research project, to use the app and record whether they had symptoms or not. The team employed machine-learning algorithms, together with data from the 2.7 million app users – many of whom have been tested for coronavirus – to work out the combination of symptoms that indicate an individual is likely to have Covid-19.

The team then focused on data from just over 2,600 twins to try to establish whether the symptoms experienced by those predicted to have Covid-19 was related to genetic makeup.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/study-of-twins-reveals-genetic-effect-on-covid-19-symptoms

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I signed off on ancestry sharing my DNA data for COVID

studies. Will be interesting to see if I get any info back someday.

[Ninga]

2. Worthy and interesting article. Nt

[Marrah_Goodman]

3. Perhaps this is why there have been some families with multiple deaths from Covid-19 n/t