Talk:Timeline of mRNA research

Review by Vipul on 2024-10-05

Standalone evaluation

Line-by-line comments

• You have what seem to be duplicate rows for the Pfizer vaccine approval.✔
• The significance of the rows on the other types of RNA, specifically transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) for a timeline of mRNA research are not clear. It may be worth either elucidating how they are related, either within the timeline rows or via an explainer on top.
• Can you double-check if the two rows on Nirenberg and Matthaei (one for a publication, and one for a discovery) are talking about the same thing or overlapping things?

Overall comments

• A bit more scientific background and explainer might help (this overlaps with my line-by-line comment about the other types of RNA). Are we talking about the mRNA of humans (the hosts whom we are trying to keep healthy) or the bacteria or viruses that are attacking the host? What are the other alternative approaches that mRNA may be displacing?
• I'd like to see more coverage of the angles of criticism and skepticism of mRNA research, particularly the mRNA vaccine strategy, both in popular discourse and the scientific community. What has created the perception that mRNA vaccines may be risky? Is it just that they're new, or are there specific things in their mechanism? Conversely, what makes many people take the view that mRNA vaccines (/ other therapies) are inherently less risky?

External evaluation

I asked ChatGPT for a timeline of mRNA research and it produced something that roughly matched a subset of this timeline.

Extended timeline

Year	Condition (when applicable)	Event type	Details	Location
2005		Vaccine development	The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval for the first mRNA-based vaccine, specifically for rabies in animals. This milestone demonstrates the potential of mRNA technology in vaccine development. The approval marks a significant advancement, showcasing mRNA's ability to generate an immune response by instructing cells to produce proteins that are essential for fighting the virus. This early success paves the way for subsequent development of mRNA vaccines for humans, including those for COVID-19, and highlights the versatility and promise of mRNA technology in combating infectious diseases.	United States
2018	Amyloidosis	FDA approval	U.S. FDA approves mRNA-based therapeutics against hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. This condition involves the accumulation of abnormal amyloid proteins in tissues and organs, leading to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. The approval of these mRNA therapeutics represents a significant breakthrough, utilizing mRNA technology to address the genetic root of the disease. By instructing cells to produce proteins that counteract the effects of the amyloid deposits, these treatments aim to slow or halt the progression of the disease, offering new hope for patients affected by this rare and challenging condition.	United States