• Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    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.

    • SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      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.

        • marcos@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

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

          People can replicate a lot of them from purely data.

          • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            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.

          • ameancow@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            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

            • marcos@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              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).