Coronavirus: COVID-19

~~jwb~~ · 05-01-2020, 09:31 AM

Such as?

OccultHawk · 05-01-2020, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anteater

Based on it exhibiting a whole host of behaviors that are way outside that family of virus's purview. I'm seeing reports of people in their 20's and early 30's with no pre-existing conditions die from aneurysm due to blood clots this thing causes.

Ant

The baffling and curious nature of this virus can spark this sort of paranoia, especially considering where it originated. However, it’s our responsibility not to jump to unsubstantiated conclusions that would be, if widely accepted, extremely detrimental for the future of mankind. Viruses occur in nature by the billions. They tend to mutate quickly and are notoriously tricky. From the information we have, it’s far too early and very dangerous to start finger pointing. Viruses are a natural phenomenon and nature has a long history of being a hideous brutal bitch. The only rational assumption at this point is that nature is just doing her thing.

That said, manufacturing and manipulating viruses is a dangerous business.

Plankton · 05-01-2020, 10:59 AM

~~jwb~~ · 05-01-2020, 11:20 AM

Quote:

"All evidence so far points to the fact the COVID-19 virus is naturally derived and not man-made," explains immunologist Nigel McMillan from the Menzies Health Institute Queensland.

"If you were going to design it in a lab the sequence changes make no sense as all previous evidence would tell you it would make the virus worse. No system exists in the lab to make some of the changes found."

Back in late March, we covered a study published in Nature Medicine, in which the researchers investigated the genomic data of SARS-CoV-2 - particularly the receptor-binding domain (RBD) sections of the virus - to try and discover how it mutated into the virulent and deadly version we're currently struggling to contain.

As a by-product of their research, they were able to determine that SARS-CoV-2 was not genetically manipulated.

"By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes," one of the researchers, Scripps Research immunologist Kristian Andersen, said at the time.

"Two features of the virus, the mutations in the RBD portion of the spike protein and its distinct backbone, rules out laboratory manipulation as a potential origin for SARS-CoV-2."

Although it is clear the virus was not created in the lab, there have been ongoing concerns it may have 'escaped' a research facility, with most of the speculation - understandably - focussed on the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). However, it remains just speculation.

https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-...n-a-lab-rumour

Anteater · 05-01-2020, 11:35 AM

That's nice and all, but it's also a known fact that the lab in Wuhan has been doing GOF (Gain-Of-Function) research extensively for years now, which "enhances" specific tendencies and/or traits of a virus. And they kept getting funding despite warnings that research of that kind can lead to a pandemic if something goes even slightly wrong.

And just FYI, they aren't the only lab engaging in that kind of research. We do some of that here, and there are labs in Germany that do similar research too. They're all just one or two process screwups away from something just as bad as what we are dealing with right now.

Nature's a bitch, but I think it's a lot more likely that China is just playing dumb. Otherwise there was no reason to force a gag order and suppress so much information.

**Frownland** · 05-01-2020, 11:40 AM

And it's a known fact that in the time since the US lifted GOF research restrictions in 2017, a good deal of our labs have been using that same technolgoy. Therefore this is clearly a bioterrorist attack orchestrated by the US. This also aligns more closely with The Stand if you find that kind of thing compelling.

~~jwb~~ · 05-01-2020, 12:03 PM

So when scientists say the genetic sequence looks natural rather than bioengineered... What do you say to that Ant?

Anteater · 05-01-2020, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwb

So when scientists say the genetic sequence looks natural rather than bioengineered... What do you say to that Ant?

I would ask those scientists why it behaves in a way that isn't in alignment with their own previous analyses if it wasn't modified or enhanced. And I'm going to quote something the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said about the lab back in early 2018-

Quote:

"During interactions with scientists at the WIV laboratory, they noted the new lab has a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory,"

The most likely explanation is that they screwed up...but then the virus mutated after whoever Patient Zero was brought it outside of the lab environment into Wuhan proper. That's why we have so many new strains in such a short period of time.

**Frownland** · 05-01-2020, 12:20 PM

That's very unscientific.

OccultHawk · 05-01-2020, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

And it's a known fact that in the time since the US lifted GOF research restrictions in 2017, a good deal of our labs have been using that same technolgoy. Therefore this is clearly a bioterrorist attack orchestrated by the US. This also aligns more closely with The Stand if you find that kind of thing compelling.

As long as we’re pulling **** out of our ass we might as well make America the bad guy. Good point, Frown.

05-01-2020, 10:59 AM	#1823 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	__________________ See location...

05-01-2020, 11:40 AM	#1826 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	And it's a known fact that in the time since the US lifted GOF research restrictions in 2017, a good deal of our labs have been using that same technolgoy. Therefore this is clearly a bioterrorist attack orchestrated by the US. This also aligns more closely with The Stand if you find that kind of thing compelling. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

05-01-2020, 12:20 PM	#1829 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	That's very unscientific. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

05-01-2020, 09:31 AM	#1821 (permalink)
~~jwb~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 4,403	Such as?

05-01-2020, 12:03 PM	#1827 (permalink)
~~jwb~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 4,403	So when scientists say the genetic sequence looks natural rather than bioengineered... What do you say to that Ant?