zlacker

>as a reader who's never been particularly impressed by the possibility of it being lab-created

It need not be "lab-created". Most samples are taken from the wild, and then has its evolution stimulated for research.

>>loveis+(OP)
True, I should have said that differently, something more like "introduced to humanity from a lab sample". Important distinction, not least because way more likely to be possible given current technology. Valid point.