We generated a rhesus macaque model

[GoodTaste]

Do "We generated a rhesus macaque model" and "We created a rhesus macaque model" have the same meaning? It seems to me that "create a model" is a bit more graceful in linguistics than "generate a model". I am not sure.

Both work in this context, of course. But widening one's vocabulary is a good thing in expressing your own ideas.

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Primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 protects against reinfection in rhesus macaques

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic. It currently remains unclear whether convalescing patients have a risk of reinfection. We generated a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection that was characterized by interstitial pneumonia and systemic viral dissemination mainly in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Rhesus macaques reinfected with the identical SARS-CoV-2 strain during the early recovery phase of the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection did not show detectable viral dissemination, clinical manifestations of viral disease, or histopathological changes.

Source: Science 02 Jul 2020
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/07/01/science.abc5343?rss=1

 

[tedmc]

No, a model is generated from something. In this case it is the rhesus macaque, a species of monkey which is infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus under a lab-controlled environment for the purpose of studying the characteristics of the infection. When you say you create a model, you create it out of nothing.

 

[GoodTaste]

You clearly have a point here.
But let's see what opinion native speakers' will express.

 

[teechar]

But let's see what opinion native speakers will express.

No apostrophe.

 

[Tarheel]

Ted knows more about this stuff than I do.

 

[Tdol]

I can't see the article, but from the abstract is sounds like a computer-generated model, in which case the word is fine.

 

[GoodTaste]

I can't see the article, but from the abstract is sounds like a computer-generated model, in which case the word is fine.

The authors said "We generated a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection". Following your thinking, "We" would be "computers". How to reconcile them?

 

[Raymott]

The authors said "We generated a rhesus macaque model of SARS-CoV-2 infection". Following your thinking, "We" would be "computers". How to reconcile them?

They don't need reconciling. If it means "We generated the model by computer" then it's fine.