A new study by American scientists on the laboratory origin of SARS-CoV-2 contradicts other studies of this type of coronavirus, Larisa Popovich, director of the Institute for Health Economics at the Higher School of Economics, told RBC.
“All studies show that the virus mutates naturally. And all the changes in it are natural, at least they completely fit into the mutation scheme known in virology. The mutation research is well known, published and openly. In my opinion, they [new research] have more political overtones, ”she explained.
Professor of Moscow State University, Doctor of Biological Sciences Alexei Agranovsky expressed the opinion that the version of the laboratory origin of SARS-CoV-2 is evidence that people prefer to find simple answers to complex questions.
“How realistic is the simple answer: a recombinant coronavirus was made at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and there was a leak? Indeed, some properties of the SARS CoV-2 spike protein gene are suspicious. However, suspicions are not yet proof, ”said the virologist.
He noted that viruses are very prone to incredible changes and natural acquisition of RNA fragments of the genome (recombination). Therefore, the hypothesis of the natural origin of SARS CoV-2 should not be rejected.
“All the evidence discussed today is circumstantial. Direct evidence for the laboratory origin of SARS CoV-2 could be obtained from the analysis of all laboratory journals of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. So far, the Chinese side is in no hurry with this, which is again suspicious – and again does not prove anything conclusively, ”Agranovsky summed up.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal published an article by UC Berkeley physics professor Richard Mueller and Dr. Stephen Quay. The publication states that SARS-CoV-2 has a genetic trace that the natural coronavirus does not have. Scientists have discovered a gene sequence in the new virus in a combination of CGG-CGG. According to Quay and Mueller, virologists often use it to increase the lethality and infectiousness of a pathogen, that is, the specified gene sequence is a sign that the virus was made in a laboratory.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the administration of US President Joe Biden intends to investigate the origin of the coronavirus and China will be held accountable.
