NO! the real name for 'gain of function' could well be 'biological warfare'! Ostensibly the thinking goes like this: What if this harmless virus (to humans) were to mutate into a virulent virus deadly to humans? So 'gain of function' research is done to see what sort of deadly virus might be produced in order to see what sort of cures can be created to stem the spread of the deadly pathogen.
Of course all such research has only the most noble motives... but what if some enterprising opportunist should suddenly realize, Hey! This research could be used in order to develop a bio weapon!
But what are the chances of that happening?
To me, the most telling aspect of CoViD-19 potentially being the result of gain of function bio engineering - not a zoonotic leap (Because every virus has evolved to target a particular species, it's rare for a virus to be able to jump to another species) was one of the earliest suspicions mentioned by virologists: how did a bat virus achieve a major mutation to be able to use the human enzyme ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) to invade specific human tissue, especially pulmonary tissue?
Such advanced mutation of a virus would normally involve much time and long trans-species exposure. Such virologists as Li Meng Yan noted this anomaly early on.
The real issue in this present pandemic however is not whether it is natural or engineered, it is why the infection was encouraged to infect a global population ... and who might have benefited the most from such 'carelessness'?
.................
If I were playing gotcha,which I don't, I simply don't have time,I would disagree with that comment.
If we have the bat lady over there in Wuhan developing bio-weapon after bio weapon in concert with the CCP it could easily make a difference to the entire world. Opinions vary on how the virus was spread,we may never know.
Was some of it present at the Wuhan military games months before when all our participants got "the flu"? Was it accidentally released up to four times at the supposed level four Wuhan headquarters where safety and security are way down the list of importance to the CCP which effectively run the joint? Was it released in an auto accident in the outskirts of Wuhan and the vials released into the atmosphere at that time? Was it sprayed by the CCP on the populace, was it sent to other countries by infected chicoms,all these are valid questions which may never be answered, but... probably do matter.