Medicine
Genomic Epidemiology for Infectious Disease Outbreak Response
Quick fact
By comparing the genomes of pathogens from different patients, scientists can reconstruct the transmission tree, identifying who infected whom and even pinpointing a single 'superspreader' event, all from the pathogen's genetic code.
Why this is interesting
When a mysterious disease outbreak occurs, health officials must find the source quickly. But what if the pathogen's own DNA could reveal the entire chain of transmission?