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No. > The virus is contained and can’t be allowed to evolve differently from what is naturally circulating, he said. These are "challenge trials," wherein the
by actually_a_dog 5y ago
No.
> The virus is contained and can’t be allowed to evolve differently from what is naturally circulating, he said.
These are "challenge trials," wherein the researchers deliberately infect volunteers in order to test vaccines and treatments. You could certainly argue that this is unethical, but it's not because the end result is going to be some kind of super virus.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- alistairSH 5y agoWhile this isn't gain-of-function, wouldn't the virus naturally mutate as it is cultured? Or is there something about the virus or the culturing process that prevents natural mutation?
- nradov 5y agoThat's covered in the article. The researchers are testing and culling mutations to produce consistent virus samples that closely match the wild Delta variant.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago>> The virus is contained and can’t be allowed to evolve differently from what is naturally circulating, he said. Sure, you can say that, but that doesn't mean you can do it. It obviously will evolve differently from what is naturally circulating. That's what happens when you separate a population.
- nradov 5y agoThat's covered in the article. The researchers are testing and culling mutations to produce consistent virus samples that closely match the wild Delta variant.