One such scientist was Professor Mike Farzan, of Scripps Research, the expert who discovered how the original Sars virus binds to human cells. Scientists were particularly concerned by a part of Covid-19 called the furin cleavage site, a section of the spike protein which helps it enter cells and makes it so infectious to humans. The emails also show that Bob Garry, of the University of Texas, was unconvinced that Covid-19 emerged naturally. “I just can’t figure out how this gets accomplished in nature,” he said. Professor Andrew Rambaut, from the University of Edinburgh, also said that furin cleavage site “strikes me as unusual”.

Source: The Times January 12, 2022 12:30 UTC