The coronavirus research reported in the Mirror article cannot in meaningful way be described as viral gain of function research, as the viruses are not being modified in any way. Zhi's lab modified *cell lines* to express artificial viral receptors, which allows them to grow previously unculturable viral strains. This will not affect their ability to infect humans, unless someone manages to genetically modify a person to express such artificial receptors.
It is of course possible (even likely) that they are continuing to pursue other experiments that could be considered gain of function, but this project is not it.
Collapse of the AMOC would be catastrophic
Definitely agree, that's why we are keeping an eye on it.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55297-5
Likely much ado about nothing yet. Climate modeling is far, far more complex and imprecise than most people understand.
The coronavirus research reported in the Mirror article cannot in meaningful way be described as viral gain of function research, as the viruses are not being modified in any way. Zhi's lab modified *cell lines* to express artificial viral receptors, which allows them to grow previously unculturable viral strains. This will not affect their ability to infect humans, unless someone manages to genetically modify a person to express such artificial receptors.
It is of course possible (even likely) that they are continuing to pursue other experiments that could be considered gain of function, but this project is not it.
Thanks halvorz, corrected.