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submitted 10 months ago by some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to c/news@lemmy.world

That’s just wild. The one silver lining to T2 is that I’m not shocked by anything anymore. It’s still outrageous, but the surprise is gone.

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[-] HiddenLife@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I used to believe that too. Until I read how irresponsible these scientists were. Before the outbreak, they were planning to release an enhanced version into bat caves filled with bats to observe how the coronavirus mutated. They were infecting bats in the lab with coronavirus. Nobody said they created this from scratch, but they could have definitely helped evolution along. Even the CIA suspects it could have been a lab leak. I think the problem is that thinking it is "man-made" is hard for many, but it's not difficult to believe that the evolution of the virus was influenced by humans.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/cia-shifts-assessment-covid-origins-saying-lab-leak-likely-caused-outb-rcna189284

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 8 points 10 months ago

it’s not difficult to believe that the evolution of the virus was influenced by humans.

Only for the ignorant. This is how research has worked for decades. Even the CIA (who are not scientists) have "low confidence". Since when does "low confidence" mean it happened or you believe it??

All sequence data, wild type virus, and previous research history clearly show this virus existed in nature and because it is a highly mutable RNA virus, was able to infect humans. No credible scientist says otherwise. Let's be clear - if they were studying the virus in a lab and it "got out" from the lab or from the wild what difference does it make? This is NOT a man made virus and to make the leap to that is just plain ignorance.

So the ignorant human response is to shut down all research on viruses because of the fear of it being "man made". The result? When this happens again in 3 or 100 years (which it will), we will have no R&D to lean on LIKE WE DID FOR THE COVID19 VACCINE. We've ALREADY discovered a number of viruses in the wild that are likely to mutate and cause another pandemic. We should be celebrating research because the previous decade of work on antigen presentation of the spike protein gave us a vaccine in 11 months that we would otherwise likely not have EVEN TODAY.

I guess this is why ancient civilizations had human sacrifice when there was an eclipse. The stupid scared ignorant people determined public policy.

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Let’s be clear - if they were studying the virus in a lab and it “got out” from the lab or from the wild what difference does it make?

Firmer policies & enforcement of safety protocols? Informed selection of safety protocols?

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 4 points 10 months ago

These things already happen to an insane degree, which is good. Others are using this argument to either jump to the conclusion that it's man made or that we should shut down all coronavirus research. There is a clear distinction between these thoughts that are being intentionally blurred by those with an agenda.

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

We ought to be vigilant about leaping to conclusions or letting biases creep in, and I can't control others doing that.

Contrary to these things happening to an insane degree, it's not clear the laboratories in question took adequate precautions.

Concerns about biosafety standards first caught my notice with this report stating that the laboratory may have been working with coronavirus at inappropriate biosafety levels as low as 2 (eg, unblocked respiratory paths of infection). Questioning the source (even though it seems coherent), I noticed other corroborating reports with references. If the reports are true, then these laboratories in the Wuhan Institute worked with infectious coronaviruses at inappropriate biosafety levels lower than their US counterparts.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Okay you’ve refused to acknowledge or read my more important points so it appears you don’t want a conversation with perseverations on your agenda. Good luck.

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -2 points 10 months ago

I don't know what logically led you to that conclusion. Maybe you ought to self-reflect & work on your own biases/not jump to conclusions?

I'm linking to supporting references, and you're not, so 🤷.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

other corroborating reports with references

A YouTube video and an opinion piece lol. How about a Nature article?

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03982-2

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

A YouTube video and an opinion piece lol.

News investigation & report quoting correspondence between biosafety experts/researchers & their letters to journals?

a Nature article

Paywalled & also in the news section?

It's possible despite lax biosafety, they didn't leak the virus & didn't have it. Based on what little I can read of the article: the word of a person at the center of the matter may be true; however, that's considerable weight for their word to carry that leaves doubt over impartiality & independence. Findings of an independent monitor/investigation would be more convincing.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

Nature is the most highly regarded scientific publication in the world. I can't help you with your paywall issues.

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 10 months ago

It's a news article in their news section, not a scientific study, Nature's domain of prestige/authority. In the hierarchy of evidence, this ranks at the bottom as background information.

The previous comment stands: it's an isolated claim lacking independent, impartial corroboration.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

Are you really so lazy that you can't even use Google?

Alright, I'll go to a PNAS article (opinion piece written so you can actually understand it) but with plenty of scientific references in the bibliography to satisfy your scientific curiosity lol.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2214427119

[-] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 9 months ago

Well done: that's the way you defend a thesis. Sources & supported reason. Not whatever nonsense you were doing.

I upvoted your comment, too.

[-] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago

This nature article has the title

Wuhan lab samples hold no close relatives to virus behind COVID

But you previously claimed

All sequence data, wild type virus, and previous research history clearly show this virus existed in nature

Which is it?

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

Both. "All sequence data, wild type virus, and previous research history" refers to the disease causing virus and wild type relatives. The Wuhan research viruses are unrelated to SARS-CoV-2.

[-] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago

WIV viruses were 96% related, and their samples were the closest on record anywhere in the world.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 3 points 10 months ago

Good lord you’re dense. What does this even mean and what relevance is it? The nature article and your articles say this wasn’t created in a lab yet you insist on keeping the tinfoil hat on. Lololol

[-] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world -4 points 10 months ago

All sequence data, wild type virus, and previous research history clearly show this virus existed in nature

This is an exaggeration. There was a strain logged that was 96% similar (BatCoV RaTG13) but this lacked the proteins at the S1/S2 furin cleavage site.

This is NOT a man made virus

But it could be a man influenced virus.

we will have no R&D to lean on LIKE WE DID FOR THE COVID19 VACCINE

Vaccine research does not require gain of function studies.

[-] rusticus@lemm.ee 6 points 10 months ago

Lol. ANY molecular biology research involves plasmids, which is the prime example of "gain of function". It's the cornerstone of molecular genetics for the last 40 years.

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00991-0 https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/250304/1/250304.pdf

You are out of your league dude. Stop spreading lies.

[-] Enkimaru@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

And you believe that batshit?

[-] MortUS@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Absolutely batffling...

this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
153 points (98.1% liked)

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