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More evidence against COVID being weapon or unintentional release

A very interesting article in the peer-reviewed journal

first the article in the NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/science/covid-coronavirus-evolution.html?unlocked_article_code=1.SVA.bzd3.NxG2hbEvChbU&smid=url-share

"If SARS-CoV-2 was reared in a lab, its mutations would unfold in a pattern like that of the Russian flu. Instead, Dr. Wertheim and his colleagues found, its mutation pattern matched the five naturally occurring outbreaks they studied.

Instead, Dr. Wertheim said, Covid appears to have arisen from some really bad luck. As the precursor virus was adapting to infect bats, it ended up ready to start a pandemic among people. “It’s coincidentally exceptionally good at being a human virus,” Dr. Wertheim said."

the article as referenced

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2026.02.006

Highlights

Viral adaptation is not a necessary precursor to outbreaks of novel zoonotic viruses

Selection signatures on SARS-CoV-2 were unchanged until its emergence in humans

Laboratory and gain-of-function passage produce distinct evolutionary signatures

1977 influenza virus reemergence preceded by evolution consistent with laboratory passage
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Zonuss · 46-50, M
Old news. But thank you for sharing. ☺
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Zonuss this is a brand new article, just published this month.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2026.02.006

The authors did prove one laboratory release that caused an outbreak, the influenza outbreak of 1977, but none of the other outbreaks were shown to have been from lab to human.

Highlights

Viral adaptation is not a necessary precursor to outbreaks of novel zoonotic viruses


Selection signatures on SARS-CoV-2 were unchanged until its emergence in humans


Laboratory and gain-of-function passage produce distinct evolutionary signatures


1977 influenza virus reemergence preceded by evolution consistent with laboratory passage


Zonuss · 46-50, M
@samueltyler2 It's new to you.
Man you are late. 🤣
samueltyler2 · 80-89, M
@Zonuss Do you really think you are so superior? This is NEW, PUBLISHED SCIENCE! It is good evidence, aka proof, that there was no apparent conspiracy, no release of virus from a lab. Man, you are brain washed!