Researchers at Konkuk University in South Korea have conducted a lab experiment that made a wild avian influenza virus 100% lethal in mammals. The study, published in the Virology Journal, describes how a small proportion of mammalian-adaptive mutations in the virus quickly became dominant, leading to the death of all infected mice. This is precisely the kind of gain-of-function-style research that has been linked to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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9 sats \ 4 replies \ @0xbitcoiner 12 Jun
People’s fascination with danger could screw over everyone. Some science just shouldn’t be allowed, and this is one of those times.
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9 sats \ 2 replies \ @fauxfoe 12 Jun
If we don't study it, we will have a hard time stopping it. Maybe we should study it in computer models instead of mice.
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11 sats \ 1 reply \ @freetx OP 12 Jun
This isn't a natural virus, its a genetically engineered one.
So we (a) create a deadly virus that didn't exist, then (b) claim victory when we develop a vaccine that is ~35% effective against it?
Sounds fairly insane.
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9 sats \ 0 replies \ @fauxfoe 12 Jun
Mostly because us not developing these kinds of viruses doesn't mean it won't exist via scientists in other countries or evolution via commercial practices.
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22 sats \ 0 replies \ @freetx OP 12 Jun
If you were walking down the street and I jumped out of an alley with a gun pointed to your head, most sane jurisdictions would allow you to kill me, as its a clear threat / clear intention to kill me.
Why shouldn't we be allowed to take proactive action against these scientist?
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @seashell 12 Jun
We’re way past “preventive science” here. This is poking the bear just to see what happens. At what point does this become a threat, not research?
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