Chapter 209: First Applications and Prospects of Gene Editing Technology

Compared to the perfect physique of Chinese people who can eat anything.

Foreigners' bodies seem to have not yet fully evolved.

Almost everyone has an allergic constitution.

A piece of five-nut mooncake, the filling inside, knocked out several of Gu Junxin’s colleagues, some of whom were even admitted to the ICU.

This seems like a joke, but it is actually a real thing.

In fact, it is not just the allergic constitution, but also body odor, thick hair and other problems, all of which indicate one problem: the level of evolution is still not enough.

Thinking of this, Wang Mengde felt that his focus in the future could be slightly shifted towards these aspects.

I believe that if some research results are produced, people abroad will definitely rush to buy them.

Moreover, the profits will not be worse than those of several popular medicines currently.

Next, the two went to the laboratory again.

Wang Mengde also saw an "unlucky guy" who knocked down several colleagues with a mooncake.

Gu Junxin is in his thirties. Maybe he just returned to China not long ago. One can clearly sense a different temperament and habits in him.

At first, I was shocked to see that Wang Mengde was so young.

He still felt a little uneasy in his heart. After all, this person's international reputation has been very high in the past two years.

As a technical backbone of a top research institute, I can't help but hear this name often.

After tentatively bringing up a topic.

Only then did his worries go away, and he even felt in his heart that the reputation was well-deserved.

Cheer up, Gu Junxin completely forgot that he had to check the test results later, and the two of them chatted for more than two hours next to the laboratory.

In the end, if Liu Shuwei hadn't reminded them that it was time to eat, they would have continued.

After coming back to his senses, Wang Mengde said with a smile:

"Old Gu, you are indeed a technical expert who has returned from a top foreign research institute."

"Hahaha, no, no, Team Leader Wang, you are still the best. I only have a vague understanding of a lot of technical knowledge when I was abroad, or even didn't understand it at all.

I didn't expect that you are proficient in all these. I learned a lot from you during today's chat.

There are many things that I didn’t understand before, but with just a few words from you, I was enlightened and instantly had an idea.”

Gu Junxin expressed his sincere admiration.

He has lived abroad for more than ten years and has become accustomed to being straightforward and saying what he thinks.

During this time back in China, I am surrounded by people in the vaccine research team who are working on the same research direction.

To be honest, these people are as hardworking and intelligent as those from other countries, but they are far behind in terms of basic knowledge and research on new technologies.

He felt like he was at the top.

It was not until today, when I met Wang Mengde, that I realized that there are geniuses in China.

Compared with the most powerful experts or professors in foreign research institutes, the young man in front of him is not inferior at all.

No, it's completely beyond that.

It is true that there is always someone better than you.

It seems that returning to China is not a bad thing.

Thinking of this, Gu Junxin continued, "Team Leader Wang, let's go eat first and continue our conversation after dinner."

"Old Gu, Team Leader Wang has other things to do. Let's talk next time when we are free."

On the side, Liu Shuwei hurriedly persuaded.

She winked at him as she spoke.

"Haha, it's okay, I don't have anything important to do this afternoon. Let's continue our conversation after dinner."

Wang Mengde laughed.

He admired Gu Junxin very much, not only because he had a solid foundation and good skills, but also because he was obsessed with new technologies, just like the domestic technicians.

"By the way, I will be here for the next two days. I will go back to the research institute after your research results come out."

Gene editing technology is an epoch-making and advanced technology.

Although he was only studying the simplest application now, it was enough to make it worth his while to wait for a few days.

September 23rd.

Saturday.

There is still one day until Mid-Autumn Festival.

This day is a day worth remembering.

Early in the morning, dozens of people, regardless of their red and swollen eyes and greasy hair, stared nervously into the laboratory.

Today is the day to announce the test results.

More than a year of hard work, hundreds of days and nights of hard work, success or failure depends on this one move.

Wang Mengde was also at the front of the crowd, and he was also very excited.

They didn't have to wait long. At around nine o'clock, the door of the laboratory opened, and Gu Junxin and Liu Shuwei walked out with excitement on their faces.

"We succeeded."

When they said this, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then burst into warm cheers.

Even several young people couldn't help but shed tears.

It's not easy.

Over the past year or so, since they started researching this project, they have been under tremendous pressure.

We have the best equipment and the most talented people in the country, but have yet to produce any results.

Many people heard some noise from outside.

Now, before National Day, they have completed their research and produced the first application result of gene editing technology - a genetic yeast hepatitis B vaccine.

The so-called genetic yeast hepatitis B vaccine is to transfer the gene of hepatitis B virus surface antigen into yeast.

It has the advantages of high safety, low price and large output.

From then on, the production of hepatitis B vaccine was freed from the restriction of using the blood of hepatitis B patients, and also avoided the risk of cross-infection of blood diseases.

The most important thing is that genetic yeast can reproduce hepatitis B virus antigens in large quantities, and the production of hepatitis B vaccine will no longer be limited by production output.

In the crowd, I saw dozens of people behind me jumping and hugging each other with excited faces.

Wang Mengde also smiled with relief.

Ten minutes later, when everyone had gradually quieted down, he spoke loudly:
"Everyone please be quiet, everyone has worked hard during this period.

Well, tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will ask my superiors if we can give everyone some mooncakes or other supplies as rewards."

"Team Leader Wang, it would be great if you could give me two mooncakes."

"Yes, last year, there were several people in my family, but we only bought one mooncake. The elderly and children only got a small piece, and I didn't get any."

"That's right. Our family was better off and we bought two mooncakes. But there are so many children in the family that I couldn't taste anything."

When everyone heard that Wang Mengde was going to apply for mooncakes for them, they all spoke in surprise.

In the past three years, there are not many mooncakes available on the market even if you have money.

At most, a family could buy one or two pieces, and the whole family would share them to taste.

Back to his office, as the deputy leader of the vaccine research team, Wang Mengde does not often come here to work.

But the office has everything it needs.

He picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number.

After the call was connected, he said directly: "Dean, it's me."

“I’m with the vaccine research team right now.

Yes, the experimental results are out, and it seems to be successful initially.

I asked them to do it again according to the previous experimental steps, and the experimental results were the same. "

"Yes, yes, I will make sure to arrange it." "By the way, Dean, I have something I want to report to you.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, and everyone has been very busy during this period. Can you ask your superior to give everyone a few mooncakes? "

Wang Mengde quickly reported the experimental results to President Lu.

Then I took the opportunity to submit another application.

Of course, he was sure that his superiors would agree, after all, the achievements this time were so great.

Sure enough, Dean Lu agreed without even thinking about it:

"Comrade Wang Mengde, you can tell everyone now that I will personally bring mooncakes over this afternoon so that everyone can have a good holiday tomorrow."

The vaccine research team was jointly established by the Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

Now that we have achieved results, this is half the honor of the institute.

Moreover, Wang Mengde is also the deputy leader of the vaccine research team, specifically responsible for providing some advice and research directions.

It was under his guidance that the genetic yeast hepatitis B vaccine was developed using gene editing technology.

As a leader and a former well-known doctor, he knows the value of this technology.

That’s why I dared to take the responsibility and directly said that I would bring the mooncakes over in the afternoon.

after get off work.

Return to the courtyard.

Wang Mengde lifted the back seat of the bicycle and carefully went up the stairs.

As soon as I entered the front yard, I met Yan Bugui, who was packing up his fishing rod and fishing line.

"Uncle, I went fishing again today. How was the catch?"

He asked curiously as he didn't see any buckets of fish outside.

"Meng De is back from get off work."

Yan Bugui raised his head, pushed up his glasses, and said with a smile, "I fished in the moat for half a day today and caught a lot.

I sold all of them to the purchasing station. It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival and the price of fish has increased by one cent per catty.”

When Wang Mengde heard that the fish were caught in the moat, he understood.

Over the past few decades, due to war, no one dared to eat the fish in the moat of the capital.

However, due to the difficult times in the past two years, many people don’t care much about it.

After all, it's almost starving to death, so who cares what the fish eats to grow up?

Of course, there are still a small number of people who stay away from the fish in the moat.

Yan Bugui and Wang Mengde are among them.

After chatting for a few words, Yan Bugui suddenly shrugged his nose vigorously and then put his eyes on his handlebars:
"Meng De, are all the things in your paper bag filled with mooncakes?"

On the handlebar of Wang Mengde's bicycle was hanging an oil-paper bag tied with a rope.

Judging from the faint smell coming from it, Yan Bugui concluded that there were definitely mooncakes inside.

Judging from the size of the oil paper bag, if it was full, there would be at least six pieces.

Seeing so many mooncakes instantly aroused his curiosity.

You know, the difficulty this year is even greater than last year. Whether it is a grocery store or a supply and marketing cooperative, mooncakes are in limited supply.

He had never seen anyone buy more than two pieces.

"Haha, Uncle Er, these are mooncakes, they are rewards from my unit."

Wang Mengde explained with a smile.

This afternoon, President Lu and the director of the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, who also received the news, brought a large number of mooncakes to the vaccine research team's office.

Then six mooncakes were given to each member of the team involved in researching gene editing technology.

There are two pieces each of the Zilai red and Zilai white mooncakes, and the remaining two pieces are the very famous flip-hair mooncakes.

"I was actually rewarded with six mooncakes!"

Yan Bugui said with envy.

Wang Mengde must have achieved some research results again at the unit.

arrive home.

Seeing the oil paper bag he brought back, four or five children immediately gathered around him.

They all looked at it eagerly, looking like they really wanted to eat it.

"You can't eat it today. I'll share it with you tomorrow during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Ran Xiaomei said happily.

Then he quickly picked up the mooncakes on the table and hid them in a secluded place.

Seeing her firm attitude, the children did not dare to act rashly. They just hoped that tomorrow would come early so that they could eat a piece of delicious moon cake.

Monday.

Wang Mengde followed President Lu from the research institute to the vaccine research team.

Today, our superiors will come to listen to reports on gene editing technology.

He is the first reporter.

In the conference room.

There were more than a dozen people gathered together. In addition to the leader, there were five or six researchers attending the meeting with him.

The leader who presided over the meeting gave a brief introduction and then went straight to the point, with Wang Mengde giving the first report.

“Dear leaders.

In the long history of human beings, mankind is currently experiencing an unprecedented technological revolution.

Gene editing technology will become one of the most promising technologies in this technological revolution.

The emergence of this technology has brought unlimited possibilities to mankind, but it will also bring with it a series of problems.”

"Let me first introduce the advantages of gene editing technology.

First, gene editing technology can be used to edit human genes to treat various genetic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and blood system diseases.

Second, gene editing technology can be used to improve agricultural plants to make them more stress-resistant, more productive, and more nutritious.”

After briefly introducing the two benefits.

Seeing everyone's excited faces, Wang Mengde straightened his face and continued:

“As the saying goes, every advantage has its disadvantages.

Although gene editing technology is a newly developed new technology, we also need to pay attention to the possible disadvantages.

The only problem I can think of right now is safety.

If gene editing is not accurate, it may lead to the activation of potential cancer-causing genes or the accidental deletion of important health genes.

In addition, gene editing may also trigger immune or inflammatory responses, leading to new health problems.

There are other problems that may be encountered, and we need to pay more attention to them when we conduct the next research. "

After Wang Mengde finished speaking.

There was silence in the conference room as everyone was digesting what he said.

In the end, in addition to listening to the report, the leaders of this meeting only encouraged them and did not say much else.

Since the meeting that day.

While others were still busy with their research, Wang Mengde returned to the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

After the National Day holiday.

That day, Dean Lu called him to his office and told him an unexpected news.

"Comrade Wang Mengde, after research by our superiors, we have decided that starting this month, you will enjoy special supply treatment."

(End of this chapter)