Ask HN: Has gain of function research involving viruses been stopped?
Really hoping we minimize our chances of another covid. 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. But with SARS1 and MERS they were able to find the virus that jumped to humans in civets and camels within months by tracing back mutations as the virus adapted to humans. When viruses are circulating in humans they don't just suddenly stop once it spills over into humans since the virus is already well adapted to their own species. You'd think after 3 + years of testing and searching we'd find a closely related virus circulating in animals that is not the result of humans -> animals. The fact that there has not been a follow up outbreak, and the missing trail of mutations as the virus adapts towards humans really sticks out. Will never stop, but the name/definition will continue to change