There’s a video doing the rounds and claiming a DNA COVID-19 vaccine would provide a vessel to ‘inject genes’ into humans and change their DNA. We don’t normally comment on fake news. However, this time we will because it’s a matter of global importance. Especially because it is absolutely untrue, and scientifically impossible. DNA vaccines simply won’t genetically modify us according to Reuters, and we agree.
DNA Vaccines Won’t Genetically Modify Us in the Way Described
The fictitious video shows ‘naturally healing consultant’ Dr. Andrew Kaufman spilling the beans to Spiro Skouras, online-personality and ‘independent researcher’. But these roles are outside regulated society, and therefore impossible to confirm either way. But what we can definitively say is the rumor is scientifically incorrect.
Dr. Andrew Kaufman bases his theory on ‘electroporation’ creating little holes in our cells to allow foreign DNA to enter them. Now electroporation is an established procedure that increases cell permeability to allow chemicals, drugs, or DNA to enter. However, these visitors are there to do a job only, and DNA vaccines cannot genetically modify us.
The DNA in Vaccines Does Not Integrate Into the Cell Nucleus
Reuters Fact Check Team sought confirmation from Mark Lynas, visiting fellow at Cornell University’s Alliance for Science group. He first explained how a DNA vaccine only triggers the immune system to generate coronavirus antibodies. These could secondly then protect the person from catching a COVID-19 infection.
But the DNA in DNA vaccines does not integrate into the cell nucleus he says, so this isn’t genetic modification. Moreover, if the cells divide they will only include your natural DNA because they don’t mutate.
‘The video is therefore just a myth, one often spread intentionally by anti-vaccination activists to deliberately generate confusion and mistrust,’ he adds. ‘Genetic modification would involve the deliberate insertion of foreign DNA into the nucleus of a human cell. And vaccines simply don’t do that’.
Related
Virally Vectored DNA versus mRNA Vaccines
The Current Status of COVID Vaccines in U.S.
Preview Image: DNA Vaccine and Gene Therapy
