The recent revelation about a Chinese lab creating a mutant COVID-19 strain with a 100% kill rate in “humanized” mice has sent shockwaves through the scientific community and beyond. The virus, named GX_P2V, was designed to mimic the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 in a unique model using mice with genetic makeup similar to humans. The study, conducted by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, has drawn criticism for its “terrible” and “scientifically totally pointless” nature from experts like Francois Balloux, an epidemiology expert at the University College London’s Genetics Institute.
The virus, a mutated version of GX/2017 discovered in Malaysian pangolins, exhibited a surprisingly rapid death rate in the mice, raising ethical and safety concerns. The lack of detailed information about biosafety precautions used in the research has further fueled apprehension. This incident adds to the ongoing debate about the responsible conduct of research involving potentially pandemic pathogens and the need for robust safety measures.
- Eight rodents infected with the pathogen ‘surprisingly’ died within eight days
- Critics of the study said: ‘This madness must be stopped before [it is] too late’
“Francois Balloux, an epidemiology expert at the University College London’s Genetics Institute, slammed the research as ‘terrible’ and ‘scientifically totally pointless.'”
— Richard H. Ebright (@R_H_Ebright) January 17, 2024
