AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Snipd AI
"Science Vs" discusses the controversial theory that the coronavirus was made in a lab. Guests, including microbiologist Professor Benhur Lee, debunk this theory using genetics and explain the difficulty of creating a virus from scratch. They explore the origins of the virus and discuss the involvement of animals like bats and pangolins. Plus, they dive into the clever mating strategies of pugnose tree frogs in Panama.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Genetic analysis of COVID-19 reveals that it is not a previously known or engineered form, debunking the theory of lab creation.
- Scientists are actively searching for the animal source of COVID-19, with bats and pangolins being the main suspects.
Deep dives
The Origins of COVID-19: Lab-Made or Natural
Scientists are investigating whether COVID-19 originated in a Chinese laboratory or if it came from nature. While 30% of Americans believe the virus was made in a lab, scientific evidence suggests otherwise. Genetic analysis of the virus's genome compared to known coronaviruses reveals that it did not match any existing or engineered viruses. Scientists explain that building a virus from scratch is extremely difficult and requires a starting point from nature. Furthermore, the presence of a suboptimal poly basic cleavage site indicates that if the virus was engineered, it was done poorly. The most likely source of COVID-19 is believed to be animals, with bats and pangolins being the primary suspects. Scientists continue their search for the exact source, but acknowledge that zoonotic spillovers, where a virus jumps from animals to humans, are a common occurrence.
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode