The rise of nanometers

Regarding the so-called gene chimeric protein, Huang Xiuyuan naturally knew that in the future this protein would have a world-famous name - X mutant protein.

"You did animal experiments on chimeric proteins. Did you find anything?"

Zhou Jingwei replied excitedly: "Yes, there are several discoveries."

After speaking, he took out a special tablet with a ≠ mark on it. Huang Xiuyuan immediately knew that this tablet was a simple storage device that could not be connected wirelessly and was mainly used for data storage with a relatively high level of confidentiality.

Zhou Jingwei found an encrypted document on the tablet: "Academician Huang, this is our discovery."

After browsing it carefully, Huang Xiuyuan fell into deep thought.

In fact, he knew all about these discoveries. After all, the Mars fungus became a global pandemic in later generations, causing an indelible tragedy. Humans at that time had already figured out many aspects of the fungus.

The number of chimeric proteins inserted is usually related to the number of chromosomes. Generally, the number of chimeric proteins inserted into a pair of chromosomes will not exceed 6.

In other words, once too many chimeric proteins are inserted, it will not promote host gene mutation, but promote host gene collapse.

In fact, this is also one of the sources of the highly toxic nature of the first-generation fluorescent fungus. The chimeric protein is forcibly inserted into the gene sequence. If the number of insertions exceeds 6, the gene sequence will easily collapse.

According to the data in Huang Xiuyuan's memory, the number of chimeric proteins secreted by the first-generation fluorescent fungi and inserted into chromosomes was generally around 12 to 30.

The mortality rate of fluorescent fungi at this stage is as high as 65 to 75%. In some survivors, there are usually about 12 to 18 chimeric proteins inserted into a single pair of chromosomes.

After dozens of generations of breeding and screening, Zhou Jingwei's team has reduced the number of insertions of chimeric proteins into a single pair of chromosomes to 4 to 8, which is currently at a relatively safe stage.

Of course, although this amount will not be fatal immediately, the genetic mutation is enough to make the host worse than death.

What's more, the reason why the fluorescent fungus mutates the host's genes is not to allow the host to evolve. It seems that many hosts have been "enhanced". In fact, this is survivor bias.

Those mutants that couldn't adapt to the environment or weren't strong enough were all given a box lunch, and the rest naturally became stronger.

The fungus transforms its host just to reproduce and pass on its own genes.

In the end, the symbiosis mode is shown, that is because the hosts that cannot be symbiotic are finished, and the remaining ones are naturally symbiotic.

"Jingwei, you have found that allicin can inhibit the rapid reproduction of fluorescent fungi. You can study it in depth here." Huang Xiuyuan suggested.

Zhou Jingwei was stunned and then replied: "Allicin? Yes, I will organize a team to follow up on this aspect."

Although he doesn’t know why Huang Xiuyuan is interested in allicin, his intuition tells him that allicin is worthy of further exploration.

In fact, after obtaining the fluorescent fungi, the laboratory conducted a large number of antifungal drug tests, hoping to find drugs to treat or combat fluorescent fungi.

Among a series of drugs, the killing effect of allicin is average, and the inhibitory effect is only at an upper-middle level. There are many drugs that are more powerful than allicin.

Huang Xiuyuan knew this clearly, but he knew that the ordinary allicin was actually the key to suppressing fluorescent fungi. Later generations even developed allicin-KE24, a highly effective fungal inhibitor.

The reason why we talk about allicin, not other antifungal drugs, is that the mutation speed of fluorescent fungi is too fast, and the resistance will increase significantly in less than half a year, and other drugs will soon lose their effect.

On the contrary, allicin, which has always been mediocre, can maintain its inhibitory effect for a long time and is not prone to drug resistance.

These are the information that later generations of humans have tested with their lives.

After in-depth research, future scientists discovered that allicin suppresses three gene fragments of fluorescent fungi, reducing their activity and mutation speed. These three gene fragments are the core gene sequences of fluorescent fungi, and the probability of mutation is very high. Small.

Therefore, it has the effect of targeted drugs on fluorescent fungi, and this inhibition can be maintained for a long time. The later developed allicin-KE24, combined with another targeted drug, can quickly kill fluorescent fungi inside the human body and achieve the goal of controlling fluorescent fungi. Fungal Treatment.

At that time, many people in the northern region of the country had the habit of eating raw garlic. During that biochemical crisis, they successfully withstood the first round of impact.

This cheap and convenient inhibitor brings huge advantages to the country.

Huang Xiuyuan also knew that allicin was indispensable in order to tame the fluorescent fungus and make it an auxiliary tool for human evolution.

Only by suppressing allicin and putting it into a semi-dormant state can we avoid a sudden impact on the immune system and cause death of the human body due to high fever.

Huang Xiuyuan read another research report on the impact of phosphorus fungi on the brain.

The reason why the fluorescent fungus appears to be strengthened in the host's body is because the fluorescent fungus is thermophilic and photophilic, and needs energy to meet the physiological needs of itself and the host.

To obtain energy, the "blue carpet" photosynthetic system formed by fluorescent fungi on the surface of the host can only guarantee a part of the energy source.

The remaining energy needs must be obtained by devouring other organic matter.

Therefore, under the control of biological evolutionary instincts and the natural law of survival of the fittest, the host develops into more powerful. Hosts that are too weak or have no skills can only become food for the strong.

But this "evolution" is actually not worth the gain for humans, because the continuous improvement of physical fitness will inevitably lead to a large increase in the energy needed by the body, thus suppressing the energy supply of the brain.

This kind of evolution has negated the advantage of human beings for thousands of years - the brain. Instead, humans and beasts have to compete for physical fitness. It can only be said that they are competing for the inferior.

Moreover, in the early stages of evolution, due to the highly toxic nature of the fungus, brain cells can easily mutate, leading to serious mental problems, such as madness, loss of sanity, amnesia, drastic changes in temperament, food cravings, brain damage, etc.

The even more frightening thing is that these symptoms are irreversible, because the fluorescent fungus directly changes the host's brain cells.

Zhou Jingwei took him to another laboratory, which contained closed cages made of super-strong alloys. Inside these closed cages were grinning mutant creatures.

Especially those Emeishan macaques, their bodies swelled a lot. When they saw someone outside the window, they immediately beat and bit the cage frantically.

Huang Xiuyuan frowned.

Zhou Jingwei on the side explained: "These macaques were infected by the first-generation Yinghuo fungus and basically lost their minds, leaving only their eating and reproductive instincts."

Coming outside the second batch of cages, the macaques here are in much better condition. Although they are also very violent and have received physical enhancements, they still have some sanity left.

When Huang Xiuyuan walked to the last batch of cages, he found that these monkeys were quite quiet.

"Has it entered a dormant state?"

Zhou Jingwei nodded: "Yes, the fluorescent fungi injected into these macaques are all the least toxic. At the same time, we also injected inhibitors. After they completely adapted to the fluorescent fungi, they could only eat because they did not get food to supplement their energy. Go to sleep."

After thinking for a while, Huang Xiuyuan suggested: "This is a good direction. You can focus on research."

"I think so too." Zhou Jingwei nodded.

Thank you for your support (ω｀)