A hallmark of COVID-19 is an excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), which is an overwhelming inflammatory process called a cytokine storm. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is COVID-19.