The coronavirus, which has been rampant around the world, is not new and came into contact with humans 20,000 years ago, surprisingly. But according to a study published in Current Biology, the coronavirus was wiped out in East Asia about 20,000 years ago.
The study said its remains were found in the DNA of humans in modern China, Japan and Vietnam.
A research paper published in Current Biology found evidence of genetic adaptation of the corona virus family to 42 genes in the modern population of the region.
The oldest global epidemic as human history
According to research, global epidemics are probably as ancient as human history. We have faced global epidemics before. In the twentieth century alone, the three strains of influenza virus, the Spanish flu of 1918-20, the Asian flu of 1958-56, and the Hong Kong flu of 1968-69, wreaked havoc and death.
The virus has more than 2,500 genomes in 26 countries
Scientists say that viruses are common organisms that have a purpose, to make as many copies of themselves as possible, but their simple biological structure means they cannot reproduce independently.
Instead, they invade the cells of other organisms. The virus interacts with and binds to specific proteins produced by the host cell, which we call viral interactive proteins (VIPs).
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