I think the authors might have gone off the deep end here:
> Consider that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and its one-amino-acid reversion mutants were artificially and
systematically generated. In that case, we should suspect that the other variants (Alpha to Delta) were also
artificially generated viruses. Indeed, the lack of findings to date that many of the various mutations seen,
especially in the early variants, are indeed associated with increased viral infection (31) supports the hypothesis
that each variant was artificially synthesized to identify the amino acids of the S protein responsible for
infectivity and pathogenicity. The possibility that the set of mutants was artificially generated to identify amino
acids of the S protein involved in the infectivity and virulence is supported.
Though I appreciate the novelty, it would be fun to see more discussion. But, I think something has gone wrong with your analysis is everywhere you look you think itβs unnatural evolution.
Usual meta questions when it comes to research: the authors do seem reputable going by citation counts, however, and open access journal is strange for such a potentially high impact article.
> Consider that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and its one-amino-acid reversion mutants were artificially and systematically generated. In that case, we should suspect that the other variants (Alpha to Delta) were also artificially generated viruses. Indeed, the lack of findings to date that many of the various mutations seen, especially in the early variants, are indeed associated with increased viral infection (31) supports the hypothesis that each variant was artificially synthesized to identify the amino acids of the S protein responsible for infectivity and pathogenicity. The possibility that the set of mutants was artificially generated to identify amino acids of the S protein involved in the infectivity and virulence is supported.
Though I appreciate the novelty, it would be fun to see more discussion. But, I think something has gone wrong with your analysis is everywhere you look you think itβs unnatural evolution.