A policy brief by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) provides a comprehensive analysis of the global gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) research landscape between 2000 and 2022. By evaluating roughly 7,000 publications, the authors demonstrate that these two methodologies are technically intertwined, often occurring within the same study to help scientists understand pathogens and develop vaccines. The report highlights that U.S.-affiliated researchers contribute to about half of this global work, which frequently utilizes common methods like serial passaging rather than just advanced gene-editing tools. Because GOF and LOF research share the same equipment and experimental procedures, the authors argue that broad regulations intended to mitigate risks could inadvertently hinder essential public health advanceme ...