Question

1. One of the promising new vaccines for the coronavirus is basically an injection of a bit of coronavirus mRNA (made in a lab). What might this mRNA do in our bodies? Start by showing me that you know what mRNA does and why it is important. How is it made and what is its purpose?

2. Would you expect plants established after a sympatric speciation event to be more or less genetically variable than their parental population?

Answer 1

Answer :

1)

In rapidly evolving pathogens and emerging diseases, conventional vaccines were not effective. RNA based vaccines could have an impact based on shorter manufacturing time and greater effectiveness.

Unlike a usual vaccine RNA vaccine work by introducing an mRNA sequence, which is coded for a disease specific antigen. Once its start production in the body the antigen is recognized by the immune system and prepare to fight the virus with same antigenic properties.

RNA vaccines are produced in the laboratory. That needs a DNA template. With help of RNA polymerase mRNA is produced. So this is easy and faster production.

Action of RNA vaccine depends on type of vaccine

a. Non replicating mRNA vaccine - simplest type. When introduced into the body its taken up by the cells and start producing antigens.

b. In vivo self replicating mRNA - the pathogen mRNA strand is packed with additional RNA strands. That will ensure it will be copied once entered into the cell. Use is more antigen production for small amount vaccine.

c. In vitro dendritic cell non replicating mRNA vaccine. Here dendritic cells are extracted and mRNA is introduced and re administered. The causes faster immune response.

Purpose of vaccine is that - once antigen starts producing immune system recognizes it. Adaptive immunity start working and B cells start producing immunoglobulins IgM and IgG. T killer cells and T helper cells start proliferating. They start producing interleukins. Some memory cells will also be formed. As antigen and virus are similar in structure they cant differentiate and attack both.

2)

Less genetically variable than parent population.

Sympatric speciation is the evolution of a new species from a surviving ancestral species while both continue to inhabit same geographic region.

Even they share same niches they get reproductively isolated. Sympatric speciation is more common in plants.