Chapter 1: The Lab Leak Theory Revisited

This week, a prominent New York magazine cover story reignited discussions around the theory that the coronavirus originated from a laboratory in Wuhan. A follow-up report from Forbes highlighted that China had barred an international team from investigating the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

The New York article delves into gain-of-function research and its potential link to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. While labeled as investigative journalism, I argue that much of the content is not new, having been reported previously by outlets like the Washington Post. Various sources within the article express that there is insufficient evidence to support either a lab leak or natural origin. Nevertheless, the author’s biases are evident from the outset, stating, "What happened was fairly simple, I’ve come to believe," and includes comments that could be seen as inflammatory, such as the description of gain-of-function experiments as a "sort of Anarchist’s Cookbook for the rest of the scientific world."

Additionally, the piece drew criticism from other journalists on social media, and I recommend checking out this insightful thread for further analysis.

Section 1.1: Notable Developments in Biotechnology

Significant changes are on the horizon for Bioeconomy.XYZ, which hosts this newsletter. The site will broaden its biotechnology coverage and introduce a new managing editor. Furthermore, Alexander Titus has unveiled a proposal for a National Bioeconomy Manufacturing and Innovation Initiative.

Subsection 1.1.1: Innovations in Health and Sustainability

One interesting initiative is a course sponsored by the Department of Defense called Hacking for Defense. It teaches students how to address national security issues, with one team focusing on Hacking for Biomanufacturing.

In Maryland, United Therapeutics announced plans to potentially begin organ transplants from genetically modified pigs this year. Meanwhile, WIRED featured five significant CRISPR breakthroughs from 2020, including the Nobel Prize awarded to Doudna and Charpentier and advancements in mitochondrial editing and sickle cell disease treatment.

The Verge created a video detailing their collaboration with researchers at the University of Washington to encode a "2020 time capsule" in DNA, which included 20 megabytes of multimedia content. This fusion of scientific inquiry with journalism is commendable.

Adidas is also pushing boundaries by developing shoes made from mycelium mushrooms, sparking discussions about the future of sustainable materials.

For the first time, researchers successfully used CRISPR to treat progeria in mice, a disease that typically limits life expectancy to the late teens or early twenties. This breakthrough has been reported by STAT, Science, and other outlets.

In the food sector, New Wave Foods secured $18 million in Series A funding for their plant-based shrimp alternative.

Furthermore, a team led by Tobias Erb reported a groundbreaking carboxylation system that enables cells to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a study discussed rigorously in Ars Technica.

Chapter 2: COVID-19 Testing Innovations

Ginkgo Bioworks has initiated a five-week pilot program for pooled COVID-19 testing in K-12 schools across the United States, starting January 4, 2021, at no cost to the schools. This initiative is part of their COVID-19 testing service, designed to facilitate extensive testing as schools aim to reopen safely.

In Europe, Labiotech.eu offered a preview of upcoming trends in synthetic biology, while researchers at Tel-Aviv University are experimenting with yeast to produce cow-like milk.

Recent studies also revealed that CAR-T cells can be activated or deactivated using a drug called lenalidomide, as reported by GEN.

Lastly, TWIST Bioscience announced the availability of an RNA control sequence to assist laboratories in testing for new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and Leaps by Bayer made a significant investment of $105 million in Senti Bio, a company specializing in cell and gene therapies.

Until next time, — Niko

Thank you for reading Cell Crunch, part of Bioeconomy.XYZ. If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider sharing it with a friend or colleague. A version of this newsletter is also available on Medium. You can reach me with tips and feedback @NikoMcCarty or via email.