Prompt Cast
Debunking the Myth: Coronavirus Was Not Made in a Lab
TLDR Scientists have found no evidence that the coronavirus was intentionally created in a lab, as the closest related virus found in horseshoe bats is not similar enough to be the backbone of the coronavirus. The evidence suggests that the coronavirus originated from an animal, such as bats, and was transmitted to humans, emphasizing our vulnerability to such outbreaks.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
30% of Americans believe that the coronavirus was made in a lab, and scientists are investigating the origins of the virus to determine if it was intentionally created.
04:08
Scientists have not found any evidence that the coronavirus was made in a lab, as they have not found the exact same virus in nature.
07:47
The closest related virus to the coronavirus, RATG13, found in horseshoe bats, is not similar enough to be the backbone of the coronavirus, as there are over a thousand genetic differences that would have to be changed individually, and the coronavirus has a unique polybasic cleavage site that suggests it was not designed in a lab.
11:24
The coronavirus was not made in a lab because the polybasic cleavage site is poorly designed and there are easier ways to create a deadly virus, according to scientists.
15:08
Scientists believe that the coronavirus likely originated from bats, as bats are known to carry a variety of coronaviruses, although the specific bat species responsible for this outbreak has not yet been identified.
19:02
Scientists are considering the possibility that a bat and a pangolin may have shared a virus, leading to the current coronavirus outbreak.
22:13
The evidence points to the fact that the coronavirus was not created in a lab, but rather originated from an animal and was transmitted to humans, highlighting our vulnerability to such outbreaks.
