As predicted in Contagion (2011).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contagion_(2011_film)#Scientif...
Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
21–30 of 156 posts
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#22A thread by an epidemiologist on the new results: https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1223305946723704832
This has been pointed out in previous threads, but this Twitter is full of alarmist unscientific BS and it appears to be spammed with some regularity on HN recently.
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't like how people are saying that theories regarding it being accidentally leaked are conspiratorial in nature. Intentional leaking? Sure, I think it's fair to consider that a conspiracy theory. But not accidental.
It would be conspiratorial in nature because it questions the Chinese government's official narrative that the virus emerged from a seafood market, and implies they're covering up the truth. Of course, people usually use the term "conspiratorial" to be synonymous with "untrue" or even "patently absurd."
We already know for sure that the initial cases did not originate in the seafood market and that the market was just an infection vector for subsequent cases.
Recently available data shows that the first few cases happened in November.
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#24"The finding of 4 unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV, all of which have identity /similarity to amino acid residues in key structural proteins of HIV-1 is unlikely to be fortuitous in nature." Does this lend support to the theory that the coronavirus was engineered in Wuhan's bioweapons laboratory?
If that is ever proven and a cover up ensues I’d like to think the people would at last slough off their gov.
The Chinese government has done a lot worse to its own people without being "sloughed" off in living memory.
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#25This would be a really scary outcome. As has been commented elsewhere, there's confirmed events of at least four virus leaks from labs in Beijing. Evidence/article on it here: https://thebulletin.org/2014/03/threatened-pandemics-and-lab... Not only that, but just last year there was a case of a Chinese scientist who was banished from a Canadian bio lab level 4 for stealing virus samples, as well as a Harvard Academic…
I don't like how people are saying that theories regarding it being accidentally leaked are conspiratorial in nature. Intentional leaking? Sure, I think it's fair to consider that a conspiracy theory. But not accidental.
I know that specifically on reddit, most posts related to the lab theory are deleted on the main pages and subreddits for this virus. For me it's been fascinating to watch the curation and deletion of content that has been evolving over the last few days.
I agree that anything with intentional leaking is really far into conspiracy theory land, but the idea that it was a leak is not so crazy.
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#26"...unlikely to be fortuitous."
Ignoring the odd word-choice, this ties in to the conspiracy theory that this was a Wuhan biolab containment leak.
I have been writing it off as a crackpot conspiracy until now, depending on peer review.
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#27"The finding of 4 unique inserts in the 2019-nCoV, all of which have identity /similarity to amino acid residues in key structural proteins of HIV-1 is unlikely to be fortuitous in nature." Does this lend support to the theory that the coronavirus was engineered in Wuhan's bioweapons laboratory?
>fortuitous
Happening by a lucky chance.
It's implying it was inserted on purpose... (Sorry had to look up that meaning.)
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#28I think the important things to know here are:
1. A group of scientist have submitted a manuscript for review with a number of exceptionally (and uncharacteristically) bold claims.
2. A huge amount of scrutiny and additional reproducibility will necessarily need to be conducted before conclusions of this nature can be drawn.
3. This manuscript hasn't even passed the normal muster... a biorxiv post isn't much different than a Medium post. Claims like these require many eyes.
EDIT: My sentiment echoed by someone who know more than I https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1223325141364592640?s=...
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
If that is ever proven and a cover up ensues I’d like to think the people would at last slough off their gov.
The Chinese government has done a lot worse to its own people without being "sloughed" off in living memory.
Worse than creating a super plague?
Re: Scientists claim to find HIV virus-like insertions in the 2019-nCov [pdf]
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't like how people are saying that theories regarding it being accidentally leaked are conspiratorial in nature. Intentional leaking? Sure, I think it's fair to consider that a conspiracy theory. But not accidental.
It would be conspiratorial in nature because it questions the Chinese government's official narrative that the virus emerged from a seafood market, and implies they're covering up the truth. Of course, people usually use the term "conspiratorial" to be synonymous with "untrue" or even "patently absurd."
Haha, I like conspiracy theories. While we're at it: Isn't it convenient that it appeared smack bang in the middle of China right about 2x incubation periods before Chinese New Year, the greatest annual migration in human history? Also that it's the first major virus outbreak to be described to the public as driven by asymptomatic carriers? And right after a 'trade war'? Before an election? What's to say it wasn't a ... drumroll please ... foreign or rogue scientist bioweapon? cue for Dr. Evil cat stroking