China warns Elon Musk after COVID lab leak comments

China warns Elon Musk after COVID lab leak comments

Subject: Science and Technology

Section :Biotechnology

Context: Musk had been responding to suggestions that Dr. Anthony Fauci – the former Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden – had ‘funded the development of COVID-19’. The original post had accused Fauci of being involved in the development of the deadly virus because he had funded ‘gain-of function research’ at the lab in Wuhan.

Gain-of-function research

• Gain-of-function research (GoF research or GoFR) is medical research that genetically alters an organism in a way that may enhance the biological functions of gene products.
• Gain-of-function research refers to the serial passaging of microorganisms to increase their transmissibility, virulence, immunogenicity, and host tropism by applying selective pressure to a culture.
• This research is intended to reveal targets to better predict emerging infectious diseases and to develop vaccines and therapeutics.
• In virology, gain-of-function research is usually employed with the intention of better understanding current and future pandemics.
• The term first gained a wide public audience in 2012, after two groups revealed that they had tweaked an avian influenza virus, using genetic engineering and directed evolution, until it could be transmitted between ferrets.
• A complementary approach — loss-of-function — involves disabling a gene to see what happens to organisms that lack it.
• Most virologists say that the coronavirus probably emerged from repeated contact between humans and animals, potentially in connection with wet markets in Wuhan, China, where the virus was first reported.