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Still out there

Warl0k3 @lemmy.world - 5day

Yeah it's not that simple, wikipedia has a good summary:

Advocates of final destruction maintain that there is no longer any valid rationale for retaining the samples, which pose the hazard of escaping the laboratories, while opponents of destruction maintain that the samples may still be of value to scientific research, especially since variants of the smallpox virus may still exist in the natural world and thus present the possibility of the disease re-emerging in the future or being used as a bio-weapon.

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SapphironZA @sh.itjust.works - 4day

Exactly, know your enemy, especially if you think you have defeated it.

We are about to see all the "defeated" diseases make a comeback due to politicians interfering in preventative healthcare. All in order to drive up revenue for big pharma and corporate healthcare from the increase in sick people.

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ameancow @lemmy.world - 4day

Agrees quietly in melting permafrost.

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marcos @lemmy.world - 4day

Keep the virus data in a computer where it can't escape from.

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Venus_Ziegenfalle @feddit.org - 4day

Computers can spread viruses too ☝️🤓

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Warl0k3 @lemmy.world - 4day

We're not to the point that that's possible.

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marcos @lemmy.world - 4day

How big is its genome? There isn't much in a virus.

People can replicate a lot of them from purely data.

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Warl0k3 @lemmy.world - 4day

How many distinct genomes are there that we include under the label "smallpox"? It's also a great deal more complicated than simply storing the genome - much as gene expression in humans is more complicated than simply "this is what the DNA says", it's also more complicated than that for viruses. We're finally to the point that we can simulate interactions, but it's -absolutely- not a trivial thing to do (supercomputer shit) and simply saving the source material prevents any risk of loss of information.

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ameancow @lemmy.world - 4day

Soulless Artificial Intelligences irritated with humanity constantly trying to get them to answer dumb questions can replicate a lot of them from purely data.

FTFY

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marcos @lemmy.world - 4day

It's actually very real machines, doing extremely well controlled chemical reactions, and no AI unless you count all computer software as AI (ok, processors have neural networks controlling them nowadays, so just "normal" amount of AI).

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NaibofTabr - 5day

This would kind of make sense if Isildur had taken the ring and tried to disassemble it and learn how its various magic effects worked, in order to extend life without the downsides.

The amount of things we've learned from the field of virology is fucking nuts.

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vrek @programming.dev - 5day

It would be horrible in real life but I thought a funny intro to a post apocalyptic movie would be a person giving a tour of a bio lab to college interns and...

"through our studies we have learned to increase the transmission rate and the death rate of the small pox virus. The downside is we had to mix it with rabies so the infected tend to get aggressive and lose there ability to rationalize their thoughts. Don't worry though, there is only this one vial of it in the entire world... these gloves are quite slippery.. Oops"

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boonhet @sopuli.xyz - 4day

No I think it would be better in real life. To scare interns. Not actually develop the megapox.

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CaptSatelliteJack @lemy.lol - 3day

Vector Institute would be a sick name for a bio-terror group in Shadowrunner

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[鳳凰院 凶真 Hououin Kyouma]|[alt: 黃家駒 Wong Ka Kui] - 4day

SARS CoV 3: 'Murica Boogaloo

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azi - 3day

they've gone M.A.D.

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