2019-nCoV may contain a gain-of-function for efficient spreading

Re:2019-nCoV may contain a gain-of-function for efficient sp... by zaroth on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @11:53AM (#22536499)

Thank you, that makes a lot more sense than some sort of “gain” (as in, increasing output levels) of “function” (as in, a mathematical calculation where each input has exactly one output).

I’m thinking what the heck is a Gainof Function?

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Re:2019-nCoV may contain a gain-of-function for efficient sp... by vikramkr on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @12:22PM (#22536810)

Yeah the function here is not a mathematical function - it just means functionality, like the thing that it can do. Sometimes we biologists can be spectacularly uncreative in naming things :)

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Re:2019-nCoV may contain a gain-of-function for efficient sp... by webdevatlurk on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @12:06PM (#22536631)

Heh, It makes more sense if you think about it medically. Like, the gain or loss of function in a limb or organ.

For a virus I suppose this would be function in reproduction.

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