Ask HN: Has gain of function research involving viruses been stopped?

  • The answer is no.

    If you think that's concerning, let me tell you a story about how researchers could synthetically create smallpox and other microbes.

    https://www.ualberta.ca/folio/2018/01/creation-of-synthetic-...

  • You are assuming that covid-19 was created by gain of function research, instead of a natural source like SARS1, MERS, [1], avian flu, swine flu, whatever flu, Ebola, ...

    [1] and a few other less famous coronavirus.

  • Will never stop, but the name/definition will continue to change