Slack / Private Message Drop — page 411

[Eddie Holmes] Very interesting to hear about that pangolin with a virus from 2017. That there were two lineages of pango viruses always suggested a more long-standing infection to me. [2021-01-16 13:24:38] [Eddie Holmes] So much of the lab origin stuff is predicted on the idea that RaTG13 is the direct ancestor of SC2, which is obviously nonsense. I still can't get past the coincidence that RaTG13 was the one virus they had published before the outbreak and that it turns out to be closest relative. If they had other closer viruses there was nothing to prevent them publishing some years back. And then you have the pangolin RBD. [2021-01-16 14:53:33] [Robert Garry] Agree with the idea that these actually are pango viruses and not just repeated spillovers. [2021-01-16 14:58:48] [Andrew Rambaut] 77 H1N1 had sat in a freezer for 25 years. Was bleeding obvious from the phylogenetics. It was demonstrated in 1978 through hybridization methods https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0042682278902039?via%3Dihub [2021-01-16 15:00:51] [Kristian Andersen] I explained this to Jesse previously.... I do not believe there's a single documented emergence event of a novel virus to a human from the lab, let alone one starting an outbreak/epidemic/pandemic. Yes, plenty of lab leaks, but all of the known kind and all easily identifiable. [2021-01-16 15:03:21] [Eddie Holmes] Yes, all correct. [2021-01-16 15:04:39] [Eddie Holmes] Can't see any real point in entering into a debate on this. We just need new data. [2021-01-16 15:05:09] [Kristian Andersen] New data... Hah - I'm sure that'll convince 'em :wink: [2021-01-16 15:07:18] [Robert Garry] All good points. I'm surprised at all the love and comfort given to the conspiracy theorists. Jesse, Relman obviously, now ME. [shared file(s): image.png] [2021-01-16 15:07:48] [Eddie Holmes] Of course not, but it's not about convincing them - it's about producing the most complete scientific picture possible. [2021-01-16 15:09:10] [Eddie Holmes] He forgot 'scientific reasons'. [2021-01-16 15:10:56] [Kristian Andersen]