On November 1, 2002 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC) researcher Ralph Baric et al publishes a peer reviewed paper considered a “breakthrough work” in gain-of-function research which describes “the creation of a synthetic clone of a natural mouse coronavirus.” [1] The paper was received for review in January 31, 2002.
“In essence, the authors have “translated” the RNA virus into the language of DNA (using reverse transcriptase), which enabled them to manipulate its genome with the help of existing genetic engineering tools.” [2]
Then the first SARS coronavirus disease broke out in China a few weeks later.