An international group of researchers conducted a new analysis of genetic information that found evidence suggesting that the coronavirus originated from infected animals sold in a Wuhan market in China.
French evolutionary biologist, Florence Debarre, was the one that recently uncovered genetic data coming from the global virology database known as GISAID. It was initially submitted by Chinese researchers who gathered the genetic sequences from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. This has long been criticized as the epicenter of the deadly COVID-19 health crisis.
New Evidence for COVID-19 Origins
Despite the market's name, thousands of mammals were sold while kept inside cramped and unhygienic spaces. The recently analyzed genetic data suggest that raccoon dogs sold at the market could have been carrying and shedding the virus.
The researchers' analysis, which still needs to be conclusive, was led by Kristian Andersen, Edward Holmes, and Michael Worobey. In a statement, Andersen said that in communications with Katherine J. Wu, they were unsure if raccoon dogs were the immediate hosts of the coronavirus that led to an infection of humans, as per The Hill.
However, the lead researcher said that the specific creatures were "high" on his list of potential hosts of the deadly disease, among others. The findings of the analysis, which still need to be published, were presented to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens on Tuesday.
The journal Science also said that the research submitted to GISAID was removed after the original submitters requested for it to be taken down. The new evidence found further fuels the recently spreading lab-leak theory versus natural origins debate.
The former has taken off after the United States Department of Energy concluded that COVID-19 originated from a Chinese research lab. However, there was not enough evidence to conclusively support that particular theory.
Sudden Disappearance of Data
The evolutionary biologist added that the recently uncovered data points even further to a market origin for the COVID-19 pandemic. If evidence backs up these claims, it would further weaken the stance that the virus originated from a virology lab in Wuhan, according to Science.
Debarre, who is a theoretician who specializes in evolutionary biology and works for the French national research agency, CNRS, was the one that discovered the data. Due to the intense debate surrounding the virus's origins, the discovery and subsequent disappearance of the data will raise questions.
This would be why the Chinese team, which included the former head of the country's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, George Gao, did not immediately make the sequences available to the public.
The new data comes as Congress Republicans are opening investigations into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. Prior studies showed evidence that the virus most likely emerged naturally in the Wuhan market. However, these studies could not accurately point to a specific origin.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that when the global health agency was made aware of the new data, they contacted the Chinese CDC and urged them to share the information with them and the international scientific community for further analysis, said CNN.
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