At the time of writing, there are 190,000 cases of coronavirus in the world. Politicians are frantically working with scientists to find the best way forward to deal with this devastating pandemic, which has already claimed more than 7,500 lives. In the front line, of course, are people who study the spread of infectious disease, such as epidemiologists. But expertise from across the academy will be called upon for this titanic struggle.

Here, two professors argue that we should sequence the genomes of patients with COVID-19. They suggest using a method called “genomic prediction”, which has been used successfully for decades by plant and animal breeders. It enables the prediction of complex traits from whole-genome sequences. Could this reveal who is susceptible? Who is likely to be protected? It’s just an idea – not a solution to the whole crisis – but it may be one that’s worth exploring.

Conservationists have long criticised the illegal wildlife trade in East Asia for endangering rare species and keeping animals in terrible conditions. Now, the coronavirus outbreak brings an opportunity to shut it down. Simon Evans explains how.

Cases of coronavirus are rising exponentially in many countries, but in two different articles we consider parts of the world where, for now, the numbers are comparatively low. We ask, why?

Meanwhile, bus services are in decline. It’s time for some radical thinking with regard to this less fashionable mode of public transport.

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