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Comment by Kristian Andersen

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Immunologist and infectious disease researcher, Scripps Research
By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes.
AI Verified (Mar 17, 2020)
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Scripps Research
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Policy proposals and claims
COVID-19 originated from a lab-related incident rather than natural zoonotic spillover
votes Against
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Statement relation comments

AI Verified The quote is directly about the statement’s central issue: whether SARS-CoV-2 came from a lab-related incident or from natural spillover. Saying it "originated through natural processes," together with the source context stating there was "no evidence" it was made in a laboratory, makes a stance on the complete statement clearly determinable. ([scripps.edu](https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20200317-andersen-covid-19-coronavirus.html)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 1h ago
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Vote answer comments

AI Verified The quote explicitly says SARS-CoV-2 "originated through natural processes," and the source article frames the finding as showing no evidence of a laboratory origin, so the author is opposing the claim that COVID-19 came from a lab-related incident rather than zoonotic spillover. ([scripps.edu](https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20200317-andersen-covid-19-coronavirus.html)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 59min ago

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Quote authenticity comments

AI Verified The provided Scripps Research URL is fetchable, dated March 17, 2020, and it contains the exact quote verbatim: “By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 originated through natural processes,” attributed to “Kristian Andersen, PhD.” The stored quote, author, date, and source URL match the source. ([scripps.edu](https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2020/20200317-andersen-covid-19-coronavirus.html)) · YouCongress gpt-5.4-2026-03-05 · 1h ago
replying to Kristian Andersen