Expert: It's time to stop creating 'superbugs' in the lab

HUB Johns Hopkins University ^ | November 1, 2022 | Saralyn Cruickshank

[Twotone]

"What were they thinking?"

It was the first thought to cross the mind of computational biologist Steven Salzberg after reading about a recent controversial Boston University study that combined strains of the virus that causes COVID-19, creating a form of omicron, the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant currently circulating in the U.S., that is significantly more deadly among mouse test subjects.

The study, which caused waves in the media for its creation of a potential "superbug," also renewed an ongoing debate among scientists about the value of gain-of-function research—studies that artificially enhance a microorganism's genome to give it advantageous attributes, such as greater transmissibility or virulence. The study's authors and Boston University argue that the study does not qualify as gain-of-function research, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health is conducting a review of the study documentation to determine if that is indeed the case.

An expert in genomics, Salzberg has studied the genomes of viruses including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, and has written about gain-of-function research in his regular Forbes column since 2014. He says it is clear that the BU study does qualify as gain-of-function research, and, as such, carries tremendous risks. The Hub reached out to Salzberg, the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering, computer science, and biostatistics, for his take on the issue and what should be done to curtail the creation of superbugs in the future.

You've spoken out against gain-of-function research for many years. What initially made you get involved?

[NWFree]

They had to find an expert to tell us this bit of common sense

[Steely Tom]

Wasn’t my idea, Einstein.

[joma89]

Um...not going to happen. One day, a weapon more powerful than a nuclear weapon will be invented and there are already biologics that could kill 90+ percent of the entire planet if released.

[SaveFerris]

(”What were they thinking?”)

They wanted to bring on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Armageddon?

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Creating super death bugs should be considered a crime against humanity. All those like Fauci and ChiComs and Wuhan and Boston University's Team Mengle should all stand before Nuremberg Trial II.

They should all be tried for crimes against humanity and executed. And as in Nuremberg I, their bones should be burned to ash and scattered in places unknown, to feed the fishes.

[Chode]

but bend a piece of metal and drill a couple holes, and the government loses it’s mind...

[sauropod]

.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Ya think?

[Navy Patriot]

Expert: It's time to stop creating 'superbugs' in the lab

Never should have started.

[algore]

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom’s will be done.

And the things that we fear
Are a weapon to be held against us.

He’s not afraid of your judgement
He knows of horrors worse than your Hell
He’s a little bit afraid of dying
But he’s a lot more afraid of your lying.

And the things that he fears
Are a weapon to be held against him.

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, I’m thinking about 330,000,000 citizens agree.

[kosciusko51]

"What were they thinking?"

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." 

— Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park

[Brooklyn Attitude]

What is the difference between PURPOSELY creating super pathogens and bioweapons research? Bioweapons research has been banned by International treaty, but “gain of function” work is considered “medical research”. It’s ridiculous, extremely dangerous and clearly should be banned.

[TChad]

Sure, the virus I created has killed forty million people. However, creating that virus meant that I was able to complete my doctoral thesis and get my PhD. So there was good to balance out the bad!

[JimRed]

Then how will the elite accomplish their goal of 95% population reduction?

[Nuc 1.1]

90% of the world killed by the bugs, just what the population control monsters want. I suspect this will somehow escape the lab. Always get what they want and the rest of us don’t matter.

[grey_whiskers]

[SaveFerris]

Needs hand sanitizer lol

I actually found a bunch of it - close-out

Big bottles for 5 cents - LOL

I bought most of them and gave them to a couple of churches to give away

I gave a few to friends

[Arcadian Empire]

I read that as an anthem against gaslighting.