Johns Hopkins
In Response: Yan et al Preprint
Examinations of the Origin of SARS-CoV-2 September 21, 2020
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of novel
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused more than 961,000 known deaths1
since it was reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019. Determining the origin of the
pandemic coronavirus is of great importance, not only to understand the mechanics of how the virus
replicates and spreads but also to anticipate and prevent additional viruses from becoming future
health security crises. If an origin can be found for SARS-CoV-2, steps can then be taken to prevent
a similar pathway for other viruses to lead to a pandemic. For that reason, it is the responsibility of
the scientific community to review and analyze data relating to the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Several analyses of the potential origin of SARS-CoV-2 have been published in scientific journals
that provide peer review prior to publication.2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Peer review is central to the scientific process because
scrutiny by experts allows for meaningful conclusions to be drawn about available data and reduces inappropriate
extrapolation or misinterpretation. It is an imperfect process, often criticized for slowness, but peer review
is a necessary part of building reliability in the scientific record. Complex scientific details are best understood
and critiqued by others who are also experts in a technical field. When the audience for an article is
broadened, even to a technical audience in an adjacent scientific field, data may appear smoother
and less conflicting than it is in reality, leading to a blurring or skewing of its real meaning.
In this document, we have undertaken a scientific review of a recent report, released as a preprint put
forward by the Rule of Law Society, authored by Li-Meng Yan, Shu Kang, Jie Guan, and Shanchang
Hu. The report, Unusual Features of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome Suggesting Sophisticated Laboratory
Modification Rather Than Natural Evolution and Delineation of Its Probable Synthetic Route,
10 presents a theory about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 but offers contradictory and inaccurate information
that does not support their argument. As the report has not been submitted to a scientific peer-reviewed
publication, which would provide the expert scrutiny expected by the scientific community and the
larger public, we aim to provide an objective analysis of details included in the report, as would be
customary in a peer-review process.
...
Page 21 (Conclusion)
1. While the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on global public health is undeniable, the pathogenic
effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection at an individual or cellular level are not unprecedented. Many
viruses are capable of causing high morbidity and mortality,59,60 infecting several organs, and/
or presymptomatic or asymptomatic transmission.61 Additionally, other viral infections (eg,
chikungunya) also induce long-term sequelae.62 Humans have contended with many scourges
and it is a certainty that COVID-19 will not be the last.
...
In Response: Yan et al Preprint
Examinations of the Origin of SARS-CoV-2 September 21, 2020
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of novel
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused more than 961,000 known deaths1
since it was reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019. Determining the origin of the
pandemic coronavirus is of great importance, not only to understand the mechanics of how the virus
replicates and spreads but also to anticipate and prevent additional viruses from becoming future
health security crises. If an origin can be found for SARS-CoV-2, steps can then be taken to prevent
a similar pathway for other viruses to lead to a pandemic. For that reason, it is the responsibility of
the scientific community to review and analyze data relating to the origin of SARS-CoV-2.
Several analyses of the potential origin of SARS-CoV-2 have been published in scientific journals
that provide peer review prior to publication.2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Peer review is central to the scientific process because
scrutiny by experts allows for meaningful conclusions to be drawn about available data and reduces inappropriate
extrapolation or misinterpretation. It is an imperfect process, often criticized for slowness, but peer review
is a necessary part of building reliability in the scientific record. Complex scientific details are best understood
and critiqued by others who are also experts in a technical field. When the audience for an article is
broadened, even to a technical audience in an adjacent scientific field, data may appear smoother
and less conflicting than it is in reality, leading to a blurring or skewing of its real meaning.
In this document, we have undertaken a scientific review of a recent report, released as a preprint put
forward by the Rule of Law Society, authored by Li-Meng Yan, Shu Kang, Jie Guan, and Shanchang
Hu. The report, Unusual Features of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome Suggesting Sophisticated Laboratory
Modification Rather Than Natural Evolution and Delineation of Its Probable Synthetic Route,
10 presents a theory about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 but offers contradictory and inaccurate information
that does not support their argument. As the report has not been submitted to a scientific peer-reviewed
publication, which would provide the expert scrutiny expected by the scientific community and the
larger public, we aim to provide an objective analysis of details included in the report, as would be
customary in a peer-review process.
...
Page 21 (Conclusion)
1. While the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on global public health is undeniable, the pathogenic
effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection at an individual or cellular level are not unprecedented. Many
viruses are capable of causing high morbidity and mortality,59,60 infecting several organs, and/
or presymptomatic or asymptomatic transmission.61 Additionally, other viral infections (eg,
chikungunya) also induce long-term sequelae.62 Humans have contended with many scourges
and it is a certainty that COVID-19 will not be the last.
...
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