Category: Genomics

Is a computer printout of A,C,T,G’s proof of existence? “In order to verify and determine the presence of a virus, and following the most fundamental rules of scientific reasoning, the virus needs to be isolated and displayed in its pure form in order to rule out that cellular genetic sequences are misinterpreted as components of… Continue reading A Friendly Chat About “Viral” Genomes

I’ve come across quite a few people who seem to believe that the existence of “viral” genomes and “viral” RNA or DNA sequences somehow proves the existence of “viruses.” One person even believed that the genome was a representation of purified/isolated “viruses.” Disregarding the fact that random A,C,T,G’s that exist only inside a computer database… Continue reading The Case Against “Viral” Genomes

When you understand that the process used to obtain a “viral” genome involves numerous complex steps each with their own ability to introduce biases, errors, artefacts, etc which can easily propagate into the final result, it becomes clear to see how the accuracy and reliability of a “viral” genome can be questioned. There are too… Continue reading Limitations in Genome Sequencing Technology and Data Analysis

What is truly revolutionary about molecular biology in the post-Watson-Crick era is that it has become digital…the machine code of the genes is uncannily computer-like.” -Richard Dawkins According to the Britannica, a genomic library is essentially “a collection of DNA fragments that make up the full-length genome of an organism. A genomic library is created… Continue reading The Challenges in Genome Library Construction

There are numerous steps that go into the creation of a genome, whether human, animal, bacterial, or “viral.” They are often complex and require various methods and technologies such as PCR amplification and sequencers in order to obtain the final product. As the process is a very intricate and complicated one, there are multiple ways… Continue reading DNA and RNA Shearing/Fragmentation

The critical first step to generate a genome after the cell culturing process is to extract the RNA from the mixture. The purpose of this is to break down and isolate RNA from any other cellular components and impurities that are within the culture supernatant. It is important to understand that through this process, they… Continue reading The Challenges Related to RNA Extraction for Genome Sequencing

Is there a danger, in molecular biology, that the accumulation of data will get so far ahead of its assimilation into a conceptual framework that the data will eventually prove an encumbrance? Part of the trouble is that excitement of the chase leaves little time for reflection. And there are grants for producing data, but… Continue reading The Epistemological Crisis in Genomics

Most clinical specimens and tissue culture samples to be used for viral genome sequencing are usually contaminated with human cells, other microorganisms and naked DNA and RNA from disrupted cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2638583/ When talking about the proof for the existence of “viruses,” it is logical to require that the particles believed to be a “virus” are… Continue reading Genome Contamination: A Widespread Problem

One argument people try to make as proof of “viruses” is the existence of “viral” genomes. They believe that if a genome can be sequenced from unpurified cell culture soup where a “virus” is assumed to exist, that this is proof enough that a “virus” actually physically exists. Looking beyond the irony of claiming random… Continue reading How Accurate and Reliable are Genomes?

It has been known since at least 2005 that much of the scientific literature being published is fundamentally flawed, non-reproducible, and/or outright fraudulent. Relating to the (pseudo)science of virology, this crisis extends to the cell culturing techniques used to “isolate” the “virus” as well as the theoretical antibodies used as an indirect method to identify… Continue reading The Reproducibility Crisis in Genomics

ARTEFACTS (Genomics): “In genetics a result that does not represent the true biological material or function but arises from a technical, often artificial, process. Artefacts can lead to misleading results from sequencing. To avoid giving patients incorrect results during data analysis and validation, any data that could be an artefact from the sequencing process is thoroughly investigated.” Artefact… Continue reading “Virus” Variants or Sequencing Errors/Artefacts?

How do virologists back up the various claims they make regarding “viruses” and their variants? Are the reports of increased virulence and transmissibility confirmed by the data? What valid scientific evidence supports the statements they make publicly? Is there any or are virologists jumping to conclusions that clearly are not justified? With all of this… Continue reading Virologists: Making Conclusions Not Justified by the Data

“Although all that is terrific, says Calisher, a string of DNA letters in a data bank tells little or nothing about how a virus multiplies, which animals carry it, how it makes people sick, or whether antibodies to other viruses might protect against it. Just studying sequences, Calisher says, is “like trying to say whether somebody has bad… Continue reading “Viral” Genomics: Nothing but Strings of Letters in a Data Bank

In July 2001, virologist Charles Calisher, along with 13 other illustrious names in virology, wrote an open letter published in the August/Sept issue of Emerging Infectious Disease. In it, they highlighted many of the concerns the “old guard” of virology had with the “new guard.” These virologists felt that the established tried and true methods… Continue reading The Old Guard of Virology Warn About the Ways of the New Guard and Their Molecular Toys