Here's the link for the whole story.
https://www.thefp.com/p/is-gain-of-function-research-a-risk Here's a bit of the content. Fan of the article because it is well structured, reasonable and stays away from the right and left ditches.
Is Gain-of-Function Research a ‘Risk Worth Taking’? Or ‘Insanity’?
A lab leak in Wuhan may have led to the outbreak of Covid. So what were scientists doing there? And why?
By David Zweig
March 6, 2023
For years, our officials—from Anthony Fauci on down—maintained that Covid-19 probably originated from a natural pathway in Wuhan, China. Bats in a wet market, some said.
But according to a new report, the U.S. Energy Department believes the virus likely escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology before going on to kill millions around the world. The FBI and a number of prominent scientists also think Covid may have leaked from the lab, where researchers were allegedly conducting “gain-of-function” experiments on coronaviruses, potentially making them deadlier.
Before the winter of 2020, most people had never heard of this type of research, which goes on in labs around the world. But over the past few years, experts have made the compelling argument that it is so risky it could endanger humanity.
And yet, the Biden administration remains supportive of gain-of-function research “to help prevent future pandemics” as long as it’s done safely and with transparency, according to John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications.
But can any of this research ever be done safely or transparently? And is it worth the risks?........
