Thread by @Kal_Chiron

I would too. I am jittery about DNA vaccine. No matter what is claimed, DNA always finds a way to integrate/mutate etc. Even if it is one chance in 100 quadrillion. That is how evolution has happened

https://twitter.com/centerofright/status/1354608784203649031

It mimics DNA virus infection. Such viral DNAs very rarely incorporate in genome.

But then that is it. It integrates very rarely. That is how most of our genome is a non coding junkyard of all previous viral infections (and other reasons too).

I cannot avoid viral infection. But if possible and if normal alternatives are available, why should I get infected by choice (even if it is a chimpanzee adenovirus shell carrying nucleotide string).

Of course if Covaxin’s phase-3 results are not good, then no choice but to use CoviShield.

Further, I have already been infected by real virus. So I don’t know which band I fall in and when will my turn come (if at all). I already still have antibodies (hopefully).

For all those wondering : here is a very nice and comparative ppt on differences of Pfizer vaccine and Oxford Vaccine (CoviShield). I would recommend watching this video to all on my TL

Both Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield) and Pfizer/Moderna use nucleic acids.

Former uses DNA, latter ones use RNA.

RNA is extremely unstable. Hence Pfizer/Moderna need almost impossible infrastructure to store and deploy it.

But RNA can not enter nucleus until it is converted to DNA. And RNA cannot be converted to DNA unless if a protein called “reverse transcriptase” is present to catalyse that reaction.

And humans lack this enzyme. Only few retroviruses (like HIV) have this enzyme/protein.

So in a way, RNA virus is safer (in terms of having almost zero chance of integrating in genome unless the person is infected by some retrovirus himself).

DNA is very stable molecule. We can isolate DNA even from many fossils who died thousands or lakhs of years ago.

So DNA does not need such expensive cold-storage infrastructure. Hence this DNA vaccine is easier to deploy and remains stable even in normal household refrigerated temperatures.

But it enters nucleus. 😊

Very low chances of it integrating/recombining etc with our genome.

But we (at least those who are fellow molecular biologists) will have all sorts of funny tales of ruined PCR reactions and cloning experiments when our sequence is inserted in wrong place and experiments fail.

It is known to happen time and again.