4 ms·
Well, the conclusion of this paper is that the odds of this virus coming to be naturally are very small. Which is a very scientific way of saying "we think this
by 317070 7y ago
Well, the conclusion of this paper is that the odds of this virus coming to be naturally are very small. Which is a very scientific way of saying "we think this was man-made".
But, that is what the paper is saying. Extraordinary claims, extraordinary evidence is what I think. I feel the evidence here is quite small, but I'm not a bio-data-scientist.
- ericb 7y agoIs it an extraordinary claim? The sequence matching should be easy to verify as the genome has been published. If the sequences are short or common enough maybe it would be a more likely coincidence. That said: What are the priors on a "natural" virus erupting in the only city in China with a level 4 biohazard facility? Source: http://english.www.gov.cn/state_council/ministries/2018/01/04/content_281476001535134.htm http://english.www.gov.cn/state_council/ministries/2018/01/0...
- SketchySeaBeast 7y agoSo if it's not extraordinary it's still going to require evidence, which without peer review we still pretty much have none.
- gamegod 7y agoThis is evidence, but it requires corroboration from other evidence. Peer review doesn't provide additional evidence - it's just a sober second opinion that lends credence (or not) to the proposed evidence and interpretation. Just wanted to clarify the language here.
- SketchySeaBeast 7y agoTotally right - and thank you for the clarification in language.
- MockObject 7y agoIndeed, the paper seems to suggest that the natural occurrence of this virus is the extraordinary claim.