Chapter 775: Keys in nematode cells

In fact, according to Professor Liu's status, there is no need to "lick" Lu Zhou.
Being able to have your own laboratory and do your own project is better than working for others.
However, nothing can escape the word Zhenxiang.
With only one sentence, Lu Zhou let him clean up without saying a word ...
"... I can't help you this term, but in the next term, two years later, I guarantee that you will become an academician without major problems."
For Professor Liu, who has no connections outside the small circle of frozen biology, this promise is enough ...
Jinling Advanced Institute.
A laboratory located at the far corner of the Institute of Biochemistry.
Some of the equipment here was ordered by acquaintances from Germany and the Netherlands, and some were simply moved, or borrowed, from the Institute of Basic Medicine of PLA General Hospital.
Although this is not correct from a program perspective, everything can be changed. In particular, after this research group put on the brand of the Lunar Orbit Construction Commission's key projects, no leader would refuse such white picking achievements.
As long as you sign a letter, even if you support the national key project, it is really no different from Bai Picker.
Standing in the laboratory, Lu Zhou looked at the samples in the glassware in the refrigerated incubator for a moment and asked.
"this is?"
Professor Liu Zuobing: "Samples of ancient nematode cells! The research team of St. Petersburg University collected them from the tundra of the Alazea River. Because I have a good relationship with the professors there, I bought them from them . "
Lu Zhou asked casually.
"how much is it?"
"Not expensive, just $ 100,000."
For $ 100,000 ...
It's not cheap to buy so many samples.
If Lu Zhou remembers it correctly, this thing is not an endangered species, mainly in the feces of paleontology. As long as the migration path of paleontology is found in the permafrost zone, or the ancient river bed and the like, a shovel of soil may be able to get a pile of samples.
Spend 100,000 dollars to buy this stuff, I am afraid that even the full funding for other people's scientific research activities will be given.
It seemed that he understood the sympathy of Lu Zhou, and Professor Liu Zuobing coughed and explained.
"One hundred thousand dollars is not expensive! As the saying goes, the rare thing is expensive. According to the carbon isotope detection, it is about 40,000 years ago. We want to make this kind of thing. It may only be available on the plateau. complete……"
Lu Zhou: "Say the point, I don't know much about paleontology."
Professor Liu Zuobing nodded, and continued with a serious expression.
"This is probably the earliest living biological sample we can get. After getting a sample containing frozen nematodes from a research team at St. Petersburg University, we took out some of the complete nematode cells and transplanted them into special culture dishes for enrichment. Set cultivation, and found a very amazing phenomenon. "
Taking a step ahead of Lu Zhou, Professor Zhang Jiafu listening carefully beside him couldn't help asking.
"What phenomenon?"
Professor Liu Zuobing said in a serious tone, "Among the 173 culture dishes, 2 observed the recovery of nematode cells and resumed normal life activities!"
Hearing this sentence, the expression on Professor Zhang Jiafu's face suddenly became wonderful.
"Are you sure that there is no contamination? The sample from St. Petersburg University is fine for you?"
Professor Liu Zuobing continued in a positive tone: "I can be sure, because they went to the expedition in the frozen ground with my students present."
"It's me," Song Siyuan, standing next to Professor Liu Zuobing, raised his hand, looked at the instructor, and said nervously, "I sampled these samples myself, and the photos were there."
Lu Zhou asked inexplicably, "... why would you pay $ 100,000?"
I dig it myself, why should I give money?
Professor Liu Zuobing's expression suddenly became a little awkward.
Fortunately, Professor Zhang Jiafu understood it and said with a light cough, "It's like working with Maozis. They have a hard time, so it's normal for them to pick up money ... Can I see a sample?"
Professor Liu Zuobing gave him a grateful glance and nodded.
"of course can."
After taking a sample from a petri dish with a special pipette, Professor Liu Zuobing's assistant quickly made the sample into a slide specimen and placed it on a laboratory microscope.
Seeing that the specimens were ready, Professor Zhang Jiafu couldn't wait to step forward and stood carefully in front of the microscope.
I saw these precious tiny creatures floating in agar and special nutrient solution, using E. coli as food, and slowly moving.
After observing like this for five or six minutes, he finally removed his face from the microscope and said with emotion.
"This discovery is incredible ... does the University of St. Petersburg leave the research results to you?"
"Of course not, everything is theirs, but I haven't continued to cooperate with them in subsequent research." With this, Professor Liu Zuobing's mouth finally evoked a smile, "For example, the retrieval of DNA fragments of nematodes ... … I guess they have been doing it, but they haven't seen anything. "
As soon as he heard this sentence, Professor Zhang immediately got up and asked quickly.
"what have you found?"
"By studying the DNA of the nematode samples, we found that 18S-rDNA gene fragments may contain factors that allow them to actively dormant in extremely cold environments!"
This time it was not only Zhang Jiafu, but even Lu Zhou's face showed a little surprised expression.
DNA fragments related to frozen dormancy!
This discovery is remarkable.
Lu Zhou immediately asked, "Did you publish it in the journal?"
"Not yet," Professor Liu Zuobing shook his head. "This is just a phased achievement. We are sure that the Russians did not discover this, so we did not publish it."
This operation is common in academia.
Lu Zhou himself had not done it, so he nodded in understanding.
"I know the situation, now I want to hear your experimental ideas, can you simply talk to me?"
Professor Liu Zuobing nodded and said.
"The 18S-rDNA gene fragment may become the key to solving the freezing and dormant technology. At present, we have speculated about two possibilities. One is that this 18S-rDNA gene fragment synthesizes a special protein through transcription of RNA, which makes cells in extreme weather conditions. Pause life activities and maintain the normal structure of the cell body! "
This sounds exciting.
However, Lu Zhou's face did not show a markedly excited expression. After thinking for a moment, he said, "But there are still many cell deaths."
Professor Liu nodded and said.
"Yes, not every individual can survive, because it is not just the cold that they encounter on the frozen ground ... Of course, these are not the points. The point is that we have two ideas now."
After a pause, he went to the whiteboard in the laboratory, drew two lines on it, and wrote next to one of them.
"One method is through gene editing. After modifying the potentially effective gene fragment, it is inserted into the gene fragment of the living body to achieve dormancy in a frozen environment!"
Lu Zhou thought for a moment and then asked, "What about another experimental idea?"
The marker in his hand was on the narration of another line, and Professor Liu Zuobing continued to say: "The other is to use a similar research idea to Professor Grange to immerse the human body in a substance containing the protein by means of drug induction. Slow-release! "
Professor Zhang Jiafu: "Like formalin?"
Professor Liu Zuobing nodded: "It can be said, but it is definitely different from formalin ..."
Standing beside the white board, Lu Zhou stared at the two lines for a long time.
After about five minutes, he said.
"It sounds crazy, but I think the latter can give it a try."
Professor Liu Zuobing nodded.
"I think so, the genetic modification method ... whether it succeeds or not, the cost is too high."
And the most important thing is that research involving the modification of human DNA is not allowed by moral ethics.
And unlike the controversial frozen hibernation technology, the ethics of that stuff is uncontroversial. Whoever does it is anti-human.
This kind of extreme research, let alone say that he did not dare to go over easily, I am afraid that even Professor Lu dare not let him try.
Just then, the door knocked.
After getting permission, Lu Zhou's office assistant pushed open the door and walked in.
"Professor, someone is looking for you."
Find me?
Lu Zhou recalled it carefully, never remembering who had an appointment with him today, so he asked.
"Who?"
The young female assistant spoke with a subtle expression.
"The visitor claims to be Professor Angus Deaton of Princeton ... Seeing him look anxious?"
Angus Deaton?
For this name ~ EbookFREE.me ~ Lu Zhou is a bit impressed, I vaguely remember that it was from an economics school
Although Princeton does not have a business school, it does have an economics department and its influence is not low. In particular, theoretical economics ranks very high in the United States, and many of the lists even stand on top1.
However, Lu Zhou had not studied economics before, so he didn't pay much attention to this aspect.
Therefore, he really couldn't think of any reason why this Professor Angus had come to visit himself.
After thinking for a while, Lu Zhou said.
"I see. Let him wait for me in the reception room."
The female assistant nodded.
"Okay, professor."
After all, she turned around and walked out of the corridor.