Summarize:

When starting the game, you will be able to choose a few upgrades for your virus. What you choose here will have a huge impact on how the game plays out, so choose wisely. There are a few suggested upgrades that you should pick to make this game easier:  DNA Gene - ATP Boost. This will give you extra DNA points at the beginning. Travel Gene - Aquacyte. Basically required to infect difficult islands like Greenland, Iceland, and New Zealand. Evolution Gene - Patho-Stasis. This will make your upgrades much cheaper. Mutation Gene - Genetic Mimic. This slows the cure progression, offsetting the negative effects of the Patho-Stasis upgrade. Environment Gene - Extremophile. This boosts the infection rate in every environmental condition. Before choosing a starting country, use your ATP Boost bonus to purchase a few starting upgrades. These upgrades will increase ineffectiveness while keeping lethal mutations from showing up too early.  Coughing Gene Compression 1 and 2 Your starting country is very important, as this will determine how quickly the virus starts spreading. Most guides recommend starting in India due to the large population and proximity to China, though others suggest Saudi Arabia. Work will begin on the cure shortly after the game begins.
Choose your genes. Buy some initial upgrades. Choose a starting country.