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Slack / Private Message Drop, p.167 [SLACK_000381] · slack_pm:msg:01720

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But forgot to put the RBD or furin site in.

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

2020-09-14 23:41 Andrew Rambaut open

Ooh. Just saw this bit: ```Since many phylogenetic analyses categorize coronaviruses based on the sequence similarity of the RdRp gene only SARS-CoV-2 and ZC45/ZXC21 are separated into different groups/sub-lineages in phylogenetic studies.``` So they are saying 'they' used RdRp from a different virus to confuse phylogenetics!
2020-09-14 23:41 Kristian G. Andersen open

shared file(s): Screen Shot 2020-09-14 at 11.40.57 PM.png
2020-09-14 23:41 Andrew Rambaut open

Then they constructed RaTG13 with that RdRp as well to act as a decoy.
2020-09-14 23:41 Edward C. Holmes open

Fuck, that's cunning.
2020-09-14 23:41 Andrew Rambaut

But forgot to put the RBD or furin site in.
2020-09-14 23:42 Edward C. Holmes open

It was a busy day - they had the lab to bleach.
2020-09-14 23:42 Kristian G. Andersen open

They put a restriction site INSIDE the furin site so they can follow the viruses over time - it's all very clever.
2020-09-14 23:43 Andrew Rambaut open

I wonder if they encoded any secret messages in the synonymous codon usage?
2020-09-14 23:44 Andrew Rambaut open

"made in China"