https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bies.202000325
A recent article by Segreto and Deigin advocates an artificial chimeric origin hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2. According to the authors' paper, the virus "can be synthesized by combining a RaTG13-like backbone with an RBD similar to a coronavirus recently isolated from pangolins," followed by serial cell or animal passage. Here, we show that the few supporting arguments presented in this work rely on impossible or incorrect assumptions, with important weaknesses of the assumptions being completely ignored. We wish to make it clear that our review is not about whether SARS-CoV-2 (regardless of its origin) leaked from the laboratory: this hypothesis cannot be assessed by analyzing the genetic and phenotypic properties of the virus. Such leaks can only be determined by investigating the relevant laboratories. Our review is on the possible biological origin of SARS-CoV-2 based on evidence provided by comparative genomics approaches.

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