Why would they do the research and “gain of function” on this?
Why create this virus?
“Why would they do the research and “gain of function” on this?
Why create this virus?”
“Gain of function” isn’t hypothetical or theoretical, it’s real. You can call it whatever you want; evolution, intelligent design, gain of function. Viruses are just easier to work with than other lab animals. In general, they’re looking for an airborne virus that causes pneumonia. The “airborne” part is the “gain of function.” (Surviving inside airborne droplets of bodily fluids doesn’t count.)
One result, of course, is a doomsday virus. Airborne viral pneumonia, to which only you have the cure, is about the cheapest way to depopulate the rest of the planet. Think of Stephen King’s “superflu” from The Stand.
Second, viruses are known to cause gain of function in other organisms. Watching it happen in the lab is a powerful first step towards being able to effect gains of function all over the animal (and plant) kingdom(s).
The problem, though, is that this is the second time their doomsday virus has escaped containment. There’s no telling how much worse it will be next time. Maybe we just nuke Wuhan and a few of the major population centers around it, wipe their virus out for them.