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Justin Kinney – Response to “Gain-of-function research is about much more than dangerous pathogens” by Popescu et al., 21 July 2023, STAT

Silence by André Goffinet   The commentary by Popescu et al. expresses concern that gain-of-function research has gotten a bad rap. The commentary first notes that gain-of-function research describes a wide array of genetic methods, including the use of fluorescent proteins in basic research, the creation of mouse models for studying disease, and the creation […]

Helen Mundler – GOFROC: a view from the humanities

Artwork: La Promesse by André Goffinet Since the first rumblings about a possible lab leak in Wuhan, my position has been that it is as acceptable, and indeed as inevitable, for a non-scientist to be concerned about gain-of-function research of concern (GOFROC) as they are about climate change and nuclear conflict. But outsiders who choose […]

Artist Augusto Zambonato, “DNA” series, 2015

Susan Wright – Comments on “Biology is Dangerously Outpacing Policy” by Gregory D. Koblentz and Rocco Casagrande

Artist Augusto Zambonato, “DNA” series, 2015, via http://augustozambonato.com/work/dna.html   There’s some irony in the fact that dangerous microbes that are investigated in the name of increasing our safety might do just the opposite if released. This article by Gregory Koblentz and Rocco Casagrande (New York Times 2/20/2023) is an important step in the right direction, […]

Biosafety Now! Join the Movement

Justin Kinney – Biosafety Now! Join The Movement!

The US Department of Energy recently assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely caused by scientists doing research on viruses. This assessment is not proof of the “lab leak” theory: it was made at “low confidence”, and different US government agencies have made different assessments about the likely origins of COVID-19. The scientific community also […]