Manifold Jim Haslam: Covid Origins and Coronavirus Genetic Engineering — #77
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Jan 16, 2025 Jim Haslam, author of "COVID-19: Mystery Solved," dives deep into the origins of COVID-19. He discusses the controversial DARPA DEFUSE Grant Proposal and its implications for viral research. Insights on genetic engineering are explored, particularly relating to the work of Ralph Baric and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Haslam raises critical questions about the ethics of such research and examines the furin cleavage site controversy. His compelling narrative connects key figures in the story, illuminating the complexities surrounding the virus's origins.
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Baric's Reverse Genetic System
- Ralph Baric, a renowned coronavirus researcher at UNC Chapel Hill, developed a reverse genetic system.
- This system allows the creation of novel coronaviruses from scratch, a capability few possess.
No-See Technique
- Baric's "no-see" technique hides engineering scars within a virus's genome, raising concerns about bioweapon potential.
- However, this technique benefits vaccine development by making the genome appear natural to the mammalian immune system.
DEFUSE Proposal's Goal
- The DARPA DEFUSE proposal aimed to deliver vaccines to wild bats to suppress diseases.
- This involved genetically engineering bat viruses for transmissibility within the bat population, not humans.
