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© The ConversationHere's what scientists learn from studying pathogens in secure labs
By Jerry Malayer OKLAHOMA©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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virusrex
Very interesting article and also deals with all the basic concepts. As quoted there is never such a thing as "zero risk", but if a laboratory is working with proper measures the risk of bioterrorism or leaks can be lowered to be even less than the natural risk of the disease being introduced naturally to the same place (this risk is never zero either).
One complementary part not mentioned in the article (because it is not about pathogens) is that biosafety also includes the control of genetically modified organisms so they are not released to the ecosystem. Since these GMOs are commonly used in the study of pathogens this means there are two overlapping systems that prevent the escape of pathogens.
Raw Beer
It's good that people study pathogens, but I don't think we should actively create deadlier ones because there is no "zero risk" and because they can also be intentionally misused. Some of us have now learned this the hard way.
virusrex
If the pathogens are more likely to become more lethal in nature the cost can still be much lower than the benefits, the pandemic is a clear example where the (up to now most likely) natural introduction of a disease is being controlled thanks to the research done on coronavirus over a decade, that allowed the development and production of safe and effective vaccines in time to prevent countless deaths.
Raw Beer
But what many have said, and what Fauci's recently leaked Emails confirmed, is that that same research likely created the pandemic that the vaccines is said to save us from. In this case, we would have been better off without this research.
Express sister
No, they don't.
virusrex
That is false, people keep saying that but when asked exactly for the text where that is supposedly "confirmed" nobody can provide such a thing. The virus genome sequences are still available, people have already studied them in detail, nothing indicates the virus was created by humans.
Desert Tortoise
Please for gods sake stop spreading ridiculous fact and knowledge free rumors. This nonsense causes almost as much harm as the pandemic. Just stop it!