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Gain of function research on dangerous viruses is one of those things that seems like such a obviously and totally awful idea that I have to assume I'm missing

Gain of function research on dangerous viruses is one of those things that seems like such a obviously and totally awful idea that I have to assume I'm missing something. Is the whole thing just a bio weapons program with a sheen of paint and the occasional lab escape is a cost of doing business? Like this is stuff that will, eventually, always have an accident, no? Especially when it's financed to happen in countries with less than stellar working conditions. I can't imagine that everyone involved is so deluded as to think they can repeatedly make super viruses with no consequences, right? What am I missing?

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago
I believe the idea is that it helps researchers understand how better to mitigate negative effects caused by a given virus. It's commonly seen (among virologists) as having at least some merit.
- slt2021 4y ago
  yet these lab rats have never created a single vaccine. All vaccines are created by a totally different people, who have nothing to do with these deadly chimera virus experiments
  - XorNot 4y ago
    Why do you think scientific research is published?
    - yucky 4y ago
      To keep that sweet sweet grant money coming? Well that's not the only reason, but it's probably the biggest if we're being honest.
    - slt2021 4y ago
      mRNA vaccine technology is completely different from the technology they use to create chimera viruses
      - gus_massa 4y ago
        Is it similar to the tech used for vector virus vaccines?
- StanislavPetrov 4y ago
  >It's commonly seen (among virologists) as having at least some merit. The risk of millions dying is not worth the possible benefit of gaining better understanding.
docandrew 4y ago
I’m with you - even if it can increase our “understanding” the downside risk just seems too high to me. And what about a bad actor? Like the misanthropic scientist from 12 Monkeys?
StanislavPetrov 4y ago
>I'm missing something The only thing you are missing is the hubris of the researchers involved, typified by the attitude of the author in this piece. In my opinion, the preponderance of the evidence available today strongly suggests that Covid was indeed created in a lab. Countless millions are dead and the lives of billions have been permanently upended. The fact is that there is no such thing as perfect safety, and there is always a risk that whatever viruses they are creating and/or modifying in a lab will be released into the wild. These researchers are risking the lives of millions with their franken-virus research - which is why it was halted by the Obama administration years ago. The engineering/modification of dangerous viruses should be completely banned with extremely harsh criminal penalties for anyone violating this ban. The fact that we are still letting these so-called scientists gamble with the lives of millions after Covid is an extremely withering indictment on our society.
- chubs 4y ago
  I was not aware that Obama halted GoF research; thanks for informing us. Not generally a huge fan of his, but credit where it's due in this instance, this is great! It's a tragedy the ban seems to have been rescinded.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 4y ago

I believe the idea is that it helps researchers understand how better to mitigate negative effects caused by a given virus. It's commonly seen (among virologists) as having at least some merit.

slt2021 4y ago
yet these lab rats have never created a single vaccine. All vaccines are created by a totally different people, who have nothing to do with these deadly chimera virus experiments
- XorNot 4y ago
  Why do you think scientific research is published?
  - yucky 4y ago
    To keep that sweet sweet grant money coming? Well that's not the only reason, but it's probably the biggest if we're being honest.
  - slt2021 4y ago
    mRNA vaccine technology is completely different from the technology they use to create chimera viruses
    - gus_massa 4y ago
      Is it similar to the tech used for vector virus vaccines?
StanislavPetrov 4y ago
>It's commonly seen (among virologists) as having at least some merit. The risk of millions dying is not worth the possible benefit of gaining better understanding.

docandrew 4y ago

I’m with you - even if it can increase our “understanding” the downside risk just seems too high to me. And what about a bad actor? Like the misanthropic scientist from 12 Monkeys?

StanislavPetrov 4y ago

>I'm missing something The only thing you are missing is the hubris of the researchers involved, typified by the attitude of the author in this piece. In my opinion, the preponderance of the evidence available today strongly suggests that Covid was indeed created in a lab. Countless millions are dead and the lives of billions have been permanently upended. The fact is that there is no such thing as perfect safety, and there is always a risk that whatever viruses they are creating and/or modifying in a lab will be released into the wild. These researchers are risking the lives of millions with their franken-virus research - which is why it was halted by the Obama administration years ago. The engineering/modification of dangerous viruses should be completely banned with extremely harsh criminal penalties for anyone violating this ban. The fact that we are still letting these so-called scientists gamble with the lives of millions after Covid is an extremely withering indictment on our society.

chubs 4y ago
I was not aware that Obama halted GoF research; thanks for informing us. Not generally a huge fan of his, but credit where it's due in this instance, this is great! It's a tragedy the ban seems to have been rescinded.