>>14204879 PB
Just this anon's thoughts..no doubt real experts could provide better suggestions…
>If "gain of function" research/funding is stopped,
>then what do the people in the lab do?
"Depends on their capabilities. If all they have ever done is to find ways to create more deadly pathogens (knowingly) then they are a risk for being hired by enemy interests and need to be carefully watched & helped find other work. Detoxify environmental pollution for example."
>Do they just stop showing up for work and the lab is abandoned and anything happening inside just stops in it's tracks, including any security measures?
"Lab is closed. No unaccompanied entries, all saved isolates of pathogens and related material destroyed (keep DARPA & spooks out)."
>Or, would the lab be completely safe/secure still?
"See above. Both facilities and people have to be "secured" in the sense neither stock material nor expertise is available for $$$."
>Would defunding/stopping "gain of function" research actually be dangerous?
"No more dangerous than continuing to fund it as we have seen. Granted other "secret" research might be continued but sharing the published literature has been key to allow this to continue and without that it would require only those with prior expertise. Careful scrutiny of resource acquisition (as has been done with explosive materials). Newly defunded GOF researchers could be useful in this work. "