The Biden administration now says it is being "vigilant" about risky scientific research in China after a study there found a coronavirus variant killed 100% of "humanized" mice.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday the heightened vigilance is because viruses can "come back and harm Americans" if they are mishandled in labs, as per to New York Post.
China's Coronavirus Research
Chinese scientists have resumed experiments on mutant coronavirus strains, raising concerns and drawing attention to a booming wave of research dedicated to understanding and modifying COVID variants. Last month, virologists from Beijing, in a controversial move, cloned and mutated a Covid-like virus found in a pangolin, infecting 'humanised' mice with the GX_P2V virus, resulting in the death of all eight mice.
The research's stated purpose was to assess the danger posed to humans by new Covid viruses and contribute data for the development of a universal vaccine capable of protecting against all coronaviruses. However, the study, yet to undergo peer review, faced criticism, with Professor Francois Balloux from the UCL Genetics Institute calling it "scientifically totally pointless."
Despite the controversy and potential risks, global research on genetically modifying Covid variants is on the rise. While some of this research occurs in China, a significant portion is taking place in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and the US Scientists involved in these experiments emphasize the safety of their work, conducted in secure laboratories, asserting the necessity of understanding Sars-CoV-2 and its broader coronavirus family.
Leading this research in the UK is the G2P2-UK Consortium, funded by British taxpayers and based at Imperial College in London. The consortium aims to examine how current and emerging Covid variants adapt in humans, understanding the role of mutations in a variant's characteristics, including lethality, transmissibility, and vaccine-induced immunity evasion, according to The Telegraph.
Read Also : Putin Says Russia is Close to Cancer Vaccines
Natural Mutation Study in COVID-19 Variants
Professor Wendy Barclay, head of the G2P2 Consortium, highlighted the importance of identifying mutations that confer specific properties to different variants. The research involves 'reverse genetics,' where new Covid variants' genetic coding is inserted into the original Wuhan virus or another variant to observe changes in the virus's ability to infect and replicate within human cells.
The scientists involved stress that their studies focus on naturally occurring mutations already present in the human population. This approach differentiates their work from "gain-of-function" experiments, which deliberately add mutations to a virus, potentially creating new functions not found in the wild.
Despite the seemingly controversial nature of these experiments, researchers argue that they have been essential in answering questions about Sars-CoV-2, providing insights into the virus's characteristics. Professor Stuart Neil from King's College London emphasized the importance of narrowing down specific mutations that drive a variant's troublesome features.
Meanwhile, there has been a growing focus on the origins of COVID-19. Recent findings have brought attention to a 2018 DOD grant that involved scientists such as Ralph Baric and Peter Daszak. This has sparked inquiries into the possible framework for the virus.
The ongoing discussion regarding the possible cause of the virus shows the need for ongoing congressional hearings and an independent commission to evaluate and potentially defund risky virus research. The potential impact on future lives is a significant concern, Washington Examiner reported.
