The Terrible Tale of Gain-of-Function Research Under the Streetlight

VERSE

G                                             Em

I was reading in the Lancet just the other day

C                                               D

About the risk and benefits of gain-of-function

How some thought it desirous

Give functions to a virus      

Of virulence and transmissibility

Thereby enabling assessment 

to inform investment

In preparedness plans for pandemics

BRIDGE

        C                                 Em

But what was the cause of the funding pause?

 C                      D

Human error in high containment labs 

CHORUS

G             Em

Gain-of-function

G             Em

Strange instructions

G             Em

Vague assumptions

C            D

Gain-of-function

VERSE

We can't even predict 

How influenza hits

From one season to the next

Instead of understanding these 

And improving the vaccines

They look for answers where the looking's good

Testing out the 'ifs'

And sequencing the 'whats'

Like, how about if this virus was airborne

BRIDGE

Cos if we know, how transmission goes

We're better prepared to prevent it

CHORUS

Gain-of-function

Insane construction

Plain dysfunction

Gain-of-function

From ferret, to ferret

Really is there merit?

Research it, regret it

Disaster you'll inherit

From mammal to mammal 

It's utterly disparate

Don't get it? Don't sweat it?

It'll kill if you let

MIDDLE    

Bm                                          Em

"Why are you looking under the streetlight?

Bm                                   Em

Do you    think the answer's over there"

C                                           Bm            Em

The searcher answered with a spurious riposte

C                                                     

"No, 

D                                          Em

but the light is brighter over here"

CHORUS

Gain-of-function

Insane construction

Plain dysfunction

Gain-of-function

Strange instructions

Vague assumptions

Gain-of-function

LYRICS:

I was reading in the Lancet just the other day

About the risk and benefits of gain-of-function

How some thought it desirous

Give functions to a virus      

Of virulence and transmissibility

Thereby enabling assessment 

to inform investment

In preparedness plans for pandemics

But what was the cause of the funding pause?

Human error in high containment labs 

Gain-of-function

Strange instructions

Vague assumptions

Gain-of-function

We can't even predict 

How influenza hits

From one season to the next

Instead of understanding these 

And improving the vaccines

They look for answers where the looking's good

Testing out the 'ifs'

And sequencing the 'whats'

Like, how about if this virus was airborne

Cos if we know, how transmission goes

We're better prepared to prevent it

Gain-of-function

Insane construction

Plain dysfunction

Gain-of-function

From ferret, to ferret

Really is there merit?

Research it, regret it

Disaster you'll inherit

From mammal to mammal 

It's utterly disparate

Don't get it? Don't sweat it?

It'll kill if you let

"Why are you looking under the streetlight?

Do you think the answer's over there"

The searcher answered with a spurious riposte                                                 

"No, but the light is brighter over here"

Gain-of-function

Insane construction

Plain dysfunction

Gain-of-function

Strange instructions

Vague assumptions

Gain-of-function