MJ Allen
@MJnanostretch
Founder at Biometrology. Nanobiologist, scanning probe microscopist. Frmr research scientist/PI: US Dept of Energy, Digital Instruments, University of Chicago.
Dude if you don't have a mechanism then immediately cease tinkering w pandemic pathogens. It's that simple.
&One doesn't need to be a working virologist to know a lab leak is highly plausible &that the labs should've been but never were properly investigated. Or to know Dr Rasmussen's public opinions on origin are replete w professional bias &a nasty contempt for even fair criticism.
No. Considering the 3rd option- often missed- that we need certain additional facts in order to reach a conclusion, is not ducking the question. People literally get to hold this opinion, it's agnosticism. Proper investigation didn't happen &I believe that's an indisputable fact.
More hypocrisy &spineless pandering after years of attacking "lab leak" as pure nonsense &misinforming massive numbers that the science had been settled. Nastily smearing all honest &informed critics in her path while shamelessly supporting proven shysters like Daszak &Markolin.
Worth thinking about. They say they do/did think it through, only as more &more accidents come to light &likelihood increases. Maybe just don't do it until you can satisfy the most rigorous of risk assessments.
To study them, do we have to synthetically create versions of them that have the ability to wipe out humanity? Once created, the only thing keeping them from doing so are extremely fallible engineering controls and human protocols.
The way that social media has evolved has made it less, not more, likely that mainstream media will cover sensitive events, out of fear that it could lead to conspiracy theories that target institutions doing useful or critical work.
Naive as a young scientist I believed no scientist would ever lie. Following the fundamentals there'd never be a reason. But, indeed, as I learned, "confident liars" do seem to rise the highest. Grateful the "internal conflict" in my gut made me a horrible liar. H/t @hsu_steve
Someone pointed out to me that you cannot succeed in US "leadership positions" without being a "confident liar"! This applies to politics, business, and even higher levels of academia / technology. Not everyone is a confident liar. Thank God some people still feel internal…
More important stuff from @gdemaneuf. Highly significant &alarming! This is the sort of lab leak accident that I'm certain ALL virologists have visited in their worst nightmares including even Dr Rasmussen. Have they conveyed a healthy respect of this fear? Absolutely not!
Here is the 20 Aug 2019 update of that PREDICT Sample Disposition Summary. The 1,276 human samples from Laos were lost when the freezer lost power, but the lab is still listed as being able to 'securely and appropriately' store samples. @pricklyresearch @R_H_Ebright
THIS is the level of enforceable cooperation all member states must give to the UN re: risky research w potential for human pathogen release causing devastating pandemics as C-19. The fate of the world at stake: global public health &economic stability! reuters.com/world/middle-e…
Market hypo specifically tested by the CCDC &W-P generated circumstantial evidence supporting W-P 2-jump Market spillover theory. But to demand equivalent LL evidence w/o a shred of onsite forensic lab audit data isn't serious. LL question never properly tested &poo-pooed 5yrs!
If you think this is acceptable behavior from a right thinking adult. Then please block me now &be immunized against my dangerous open minded agnosticism. All I've done here on X is try to tell the truth as I know it or don't know it. People are interesting.
Stick your fingers in your ears and yell nasty insults at the top of your lungs. Whether it's Angela Rasmussen or Rebecca, hard line zoo crew or LLker, that's how haughty, hyperdefensive intolerance & demagoguery always shows up. Not offended, don't take it personal, just saying.
Debt of gratitude owed this stellar data analyst and origin research wizard, @gdemaneuf
More information on this: ▶️ The WIV had the samples, EHA had no access to them. ▶️ The WIV did the sequencing. ▶️ There was a simple understanding that the WIV would share the sequences with EHA (not to be shared further unless agreed). ▶️ No way to double-check anything.…
Let's see now. What scientific paper did every member of the global "know it all/ smart crowd" use to hit over the head of ALL who dared suggest a LL was plausible? Wasn't it myth making &deeply irresponsible in Feb'20 to CONCLUDE that NO type of lab-based scenario was plausible?
I've no desire 2b a media spokesperson. Nor to claim I'm an expert (try Bloom). But as a 30+yr biomedical scientist I'm convinced, as are many, that early certainty in the Market &a plausible LL dismissed w/o inquiry were biased premature conclusions from people who knew better.
And MJ is a reasonable spokesperson for "most people"? He has no qualifications at all regarding biosafety, virology, or pathogen research in a high containment lab. He is a microscope salesman with a PO box, not a scientist with a lab or relevant experience.
I focus on evidence &poo-poo odds-making too. However truth-seeking scientists do not defend unqualified shysters or smear honest dispassionate scientists merely for challenging their premature 100% certainty re: a wobbly-evidenced Market theory &evidence-free LL dismissal.
"Leak" immediately seen by experts as 1 of the 2 likeliest scenarios. Normally the next step w/b immediate independent onsite forensic lab audits. In lieu of this experts falsely poo-pooing "leak" as a conspiracy theory &pushing for premature dismissal is professional misconduct.
If you believe this then I have some swampland in Florida to sell you.
