3 ms·
> Gain-of-function research is medical research that genetically alters an organism in a way that may enhance the biological functions of gene products. This ma
by peteradio 4y ago
> Gain-of-function research is medical research that genetically alters an organism in a way that may enhance the biological functions of gene products. This may include an altered pathogenesis, transmissibility, or host range.
Isn't the goal to end up with an infectious agent? I don't understand why it seems so implausible that they would succeed? Why would someone give a lab money for a truly impossible task?
- bayesian_horse 4y agoA virus that is optimized for mice or bats doesn't normally work well in Humans. If a bat virus somehow evolves in a lab into a pandemic in Humans, without essentially breeding the virus in Human subjects, that would be somewhat of an accidental development because the viral particles aren't specifically selected for that reason.
- uoaei 4y agoSomething tells me those scientists were more interested in the effects on humans than on mice, and do their best to modify their analogues (ie "humanize" them) to achieve comparable results.
- bayesian_horse 4y agoSomething tells me you know virtually nothing about biology, medicine or the experiments involved. It's really not that simple.