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Latest comment: 3 years ago6 comments2 people in discussion
Mx. Granger, the one thing that this excellent virologist is known for more than anything else is the fact that he published the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, against the strict orders of his government. I do not think that removing this statement should be made without first discussing here. I think this is very much a matter of WP:DUE. ScrupulousScribe (talk) 16:05, 29 January 2021 (UTC)Reply
Hi, thanks for starting this discussion. It's fine to mention the government prohibition in the lead, but it doesn't make sense to cover it twice in two different paragraphs in the lead. I don't think the temporary lab closure belongs in the first paragraph of this article, because it's relatively minor in the scope of Zhang's career. It can be mentioned in the body. —Granger (talk·contribs) 19:32, 29 January 2021 (UTC)Reply
Zhang Yongzhen undoubtedly has an extensive career, but the vast majority of reliable sources that report about him, do so in the context of his act to publish the genomic sequence of SARS-COV-2. He was in fact not the first scientist to sequence the genome of the virus, as this source is one of a few which indicates that Chinese government labs had already done it. In the interview that Yongzhen granted with Time, he brushed off his lab's closure as no big thing, but those of us that know about propaganda and censorship in China, know he was speaking to them in the "once voice" of the party. Zhang Yongzhen may have many other highlights in his career, but he will always be best known as the guy who published the genomic sequence of SARS-COV-2, deliberately or inadvertently; against the orders of the party. ScrupulousScribe (talk) 22:33, 29 January 2021 (UTC)Reply
It sounds like you don't object to mentioning the government prohibition once in the lead, instead of twice, so I'll edit it accordingly.
As for the lab closure: sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 genome is surely the most noteworthy part of Zhang's career so far. But the temporary lab closure isn't – most of the sources only mention it in passing. —Granger (talk·contribs) 08:01, 30 January 2021 (UTC)Reply
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