3 ms·

However, the state-sponsored gain-of-function research towards particular properties is not an accident. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has published papers o

However, the state-sponsored gain-of-function research towards particular properties is not an accident. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has published papers on how they were able to modify a bat virus to achieve more dangerous properties [77][88]. [77] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4797993/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4797993/ [88] - https://www.nature.com/news/engineered-bat-virus-stirs-debate-over-risky-research-1.18787 https://www.nature.com/news/engineered-bat-virus-stirs-debat...

api 6y ago
That always did strike me as reckless. It reminds me of 1950s and 1960s atomic testing: yes, there is value in the knowledge gained, but the method of gaining it was a bit YOLO.
sukilot 6y ago
Nature.com says: > Editors’ note, March 2020: We are aware that this story is being used as the basis for unverified theories that the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 was engineered. There is no evidence that this is true; scientists believe that an animal is the most likely source of the coronavirus. which seems to be unscientific editorializing. There is some evidence, as presented in the OP for example, and there is "no evidence" for any other origin theory either. And the Chinese government in Wuhan showed from the start with Li Wenliang's experience, that any evidence that pointed to imperfect competence in Wuhan would be destroyed by the totalitarian government.
anon9001 6y ago
How close are we to DIY viruses? If I was a teenager interested in biology, and I wanted to maybe build a "harmless" virus just to see if I could do it, how achievable might that be? I watched computer viruses go from: researchers -> tinkerers -> vandals -> criminals -> governments At this point we just assume every computer is compromised, and we carve out enclaves of varying security for whatever risk level we're willing to assume. I can imagine a future where pandemics happen at the same frequency as school shootings do today. How far away is that?
- XorNot 6y ago
  You can make a superflu with a ready supply of ferrets and warehouse. It does not take genetic engineering to do.
- robbiep 6y ago
  With the COVID vaccine, we’re now very close to being able to infect someone with vCJD through a pinprick, with technology that within a couple of years someone will be able to make at home. The difficulty with what you’ve asked is we don’t have the API in the same way as with computers. I suspect that for many many iterations of computing power and biological understanding we are going to be a long way from being able to determine how to make something dangerous from scratch (although it should be easier to make something dangerous become more dangerous)
- sergiomattei 6y ago
  The bats do it for free.

api 6y ago

That always did strike me as reckless. It reminds me of 1950s and 1960s atomic testing: yes, there is value in the knowledge gained, but the method of gaining it was a bit YOLO.

sukilot 6y ago

Nature.com says: > Editors’ note, March 2020: We are aware that this story is being used as the basis for unverified theories that the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 was engineered. There is no evidence that this is true; scientists believe that an animal is the most likely source of the coronavirus. which seems to be unscientific editorializing. There is some evidence, as presented in the OP for example, and there is "no evidence" for any other origin theory either. And the Chinese government in Wuhan showed from the start with Li Wenliang's experience, that any evidence that pointed to imperfect competence in Wuhan would be destroyed by the totalitarian government.

anon9001 6y ago

How close are we to DIY viruses? If I was a teenager interested in biology, and I wanted to maybe build a "harmless" virus just to see if I could do it, how achievable might that be? I watched computer viruses go from: researchers -> tinkerers -> vandals -> criminals -> governments At this point we just assume every computer is compromised, and we carve out enclaves of varying security for whatever risk level we're willing to assume. I can imagine a future where pandemics happen at the same frequency as school shootings do today. How far away is that?

XorNot 6y ago
You can make a superflu with a ready supply of ferrets and warehouse. It does not take genetic engineering to do.
robbiep 6y ago
With the COVID vaccine, we’re now very close to being able to infect someone with vCJD through a pinprick, with technology that within a couple of years someone will be able to make at home. The difficulty with what you’ve asked is we don’t have the API in the same way as with computers. I suspect that for many many iterations of computing power and biological understanding we are going to be a long way from being able to determine how to make something dangerous from scratch (although it should be easier to make something dangerous become more dangerous)
sergiomattei 6y ago
The bats do it for free.