Thread by @ThePrintIndia

Mainstream media led by two small group of virologists dismissed lab leak as a conspiracy; they were caught up in ideological struggles. Trump’s intervention was extremely unhelpful in polarising the issue: Nicholas Wade, author and journalist, tells @ShekharGupta #ThePrintOTC

There are 2 theories-that it came naturally from animals, that it leaked from a lab. Both are hypotheses, there is no conclusion for either. Existing evidence is explained better by lab leak. Lab leak does not mean biowarfare: Wade sums up his argument #ThePrintOTC

Gain of function sounds mild but involves creating a dangerous virus that didn’t exist before. There’s been considerable debate abt it. It’s tempting tech that gives a sense of power, there are all kinds of reasons for virologists to monkey around with viruses: Wade #ThePrintOTC

US moratorium on GOF function is loosely worded. In the congressional hearing, Dr Fauci may have been referring to one of the loopholes in it when he said no GOF research was being conducted, while one was being funded in Wuhan: Wade #ThePrintOTC

In 2017, Dr Shi Zhengli of Wuhan Instt of Vir. was inserting coronavirus spike protein into another virus as a part of standard research. 2 of the new chimeric viruses were able to infect human cells in the lab. This violated the GOF moratorium in my opinion: Wade #ThePrintOTC

I thought my article was controversial and people would attack it. But to my surprise, I have received no pushback at all. I think people realise I have analysed the evidence as carefully and unambiguously as I could: Wade #ThePrintOTC

Book was controversial, was attacked by a group of scientists. Whenever lots of scientists sign on to something, u should always smell a rat. Science works on facts, politics works on consensus: Wade, on his book A Troublesome Inheritance, accused of being racist #ThePrintOTC

My book was good, showed why there is biological basis to race— any animal population spread across globe will lead to regional variations because of improper gene pool mixing. Accepted for other species, but applying Darwinian principles to humans upsetting: Wade #ThePrintOTC

For WHO’s visit to China in Feb, handpicked officials were selected & investigation concluded with a pre-scripted conclusion. The stage was set for alternate hypothesis. Then my piece came out & was widely read, then scientists’ Science letter came out: Wade #ThePrintOTC

Previous epidemics have left copious traces in the environment of their passage into humans, through intermediate animals like civets. There is not a shred of evidence for natural emergence for SARS-CoV-2. Pangolin theory was careful diversion by the Chinese: Wade #ThePrintOTC

Sørensen and Dalgleish’s claim of bioengineering is very bold, I think the authors have not done enough work to claim this. If this were true, other scientists would have spotted something with the 4 amino acids mentioned in their work: Wade #ThePrintOTC

WHO has come out with its reputation severely damaged. It has made it clear that it’s in the pocket of the Chinese. Now China has overplayed its hand. WHO needs to establish its independence and turn over a new leaf: Wade #ThePrintOTC

Vaccines are amazing and successful. We’re very lucky that RNA vaccines came along so quickly too, everyone should get vaccinated as quickly as they can: Wade #ThePrintOTC

That brings us to the end of this episode of #ThePrintOTC with author and journalist Nicholas Wade. Thank you for tuning in, and many thanks to our partners: @IIFLWEALTH, @aubankindia, @globinsure, @flyspicejet.