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Reply to: No, the 2019-nCoV genome doesn’t actually seem engineered from HIV Posted February 3, 2020

I was a medical student, though I am not currently working in medicine-related industries. Some points in your article do arouse my interest. 1. “Among the differences, the Indian team identifies four insertions… These insertions are as short as 6 residues.” It seems to me you are suggesting that given the sequences matched with those of HIV virus are as short as it is that we cannot jump to the conclusion that those sequences were actually from HIV. Fair enough. BUT, how about the fact that 2019-nCoV has 4 genes similar to HIV (or many other virus) is compared with other coronaviruses, if it is the case that we have not until now seen any other coronavirus has even 4 short genes resembling those of HIV (or many other virus), it seems a smoking gun to me. The sheer number and length of those genes in itself is not enough to debunk any assumption as is not to affirm the conspiracy theory, whereas on average, how common it is that other coronaviruses have 4 genes similar to those of HIV (or other viruses) is definitely much more convincing. In other word, if it’s a rarity that coronaviruses have 4 or more genes similar to those of other viruses, WOW, you can tell, your assertion does not weaken the claim at all, BUT on contrary, strengthens the original claim. 2. “In particular, the sequences identified both come from short alpha helical regions on the surface of an envelope/membrane protein…” it seems to me that you are claiming the similarities in genes come from regions where the chances of genes showing the same traits abound, and so the appearance of 4 genes from these regions resembling those of HIV (or other viruses) is not unique enough for someone the raise concern. However, this logic does not go well with me. It would be natural for me were I a researcher to choose highly adaptive (changeable) regions to conduct preliminary studies as it bears higher chance of success. Again, how likely is that other coronaviruses have 4 genes from highly changeable regions resemble those of HIV (or other viruses) is the GOLDEN STANDARD as far as I’m concerned.

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Reply to: No, the 2019-nCoV genome doesn’t actually seem engineered from HIV Posted February 3, 2020

I was a medical student, though I am not currently working in medicine-related industries. Some points in your article do arouse my interest. 1. “Among the differences, the Indian team identifies four insertions… These insertions are as short as 6 residues.” It seems to me you are suggesting that given the sequences matched with those of HIV virus are as short as it is that we cannot jump to the conclusion that those sequences were actually from HIV. Fair enough. BUT, how about the fact that 2019-nCoV has 4 genes similar to HIV (or many other virus) is compared with other coronaviruses, if it is the case that we have not until now seen any other coronavirus has even 4 short genes resembling those of HIV (or many other virus), it seems a smoking gun to me. The sheer number and length of those genes in itself is not enough to debunk any assumption as is not to affirm the conspiracy theory, whereas on average, how common it is that other coronaviruses have 4 genes similar to those of HIV (or other viruses) is definitely much more convincing. In other word, if it’s a rarity that coronaviruses have 4 or more genes similar to those of other viruses, WOW, you can tell, your assertion does not weaken the claim at all, BUT on contrary, strengthens the original claim. 2. “In particular, the sequences identified both come from short alpha helical regions on the surface of an envelope/membrane protein…” it seems to me that you are claiming the similarities in genes come from regions where the chances of genes showing the same traits abound, and so the appearance of 4 genes from these regions resembling those of HIV (or other viruses) is not unique enough for someone the raise concern. However, this logic does not go well with me. It would be natural for me were I a researcher to choose highly adaptive (changeable) regions to conduct preliminary studies as it bears higher chance of success. Again, how likely is that other coronaviruses have 4 genes from highly changeable regions resemble those of HIV (or other viruses) is the GOLDEN STANDARD as far as I’m concerned.