They’re all reborn, what’s wrong with being a little more almighty?

Chapter 179 Dumplings dipped in vinegar
At Princeton University, Professor Shi Yigong came to his office and saw the letters he received yesterday piled on the table.

"I remember, President Gu from Tsinghua University said, let me read a paper! If I hadn't seen this pile of letters, I might have forgotten this!"

Professor Shi quickly walked to the table and found the letter from China among the many letters.

"Is the author of the paper Zhang Wei again? Is it a follow-up study on nucleoside modification? Are there follow-up results so soon? It's really fast! As expected of a young man, he is very motivated! It doesn't take long to start scientific research. It doesn’t take long to achieve results in such a short time.”

Professor Shi sighed in his heart, and then began to read the content of the paper.

"A Programmable Dual-RNA-Guided DNA Endonuclease in Adaptive Bacterial Immunity? Not a nucleoside modification? DNA endonuclease? Is this related to gene editing? Adaptive bacterial immunity? Programmable dual RNA guidance? What is this? It has to do with genes Does editing have anything to do with it? Why do these two things come together?”

Professor Shi suddenly looked confused, looking at the title a little confused.

The widely used gene editing technology in 2005 was zinc finger nuclease technology, while transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology is being developed. Neither of these has anything to do with the title of the paper.

For ordinary scholars, when they saw this title, they would not immediately think of gene editing technology. But with Professor Shi's level, he immediately thought that this paper was related to gene editing technology.

However, adaptive bacterial immunity and programmable dual RNA guidance appeared again, two things that have nothing to do with gene editing, so Professor Shi was confused after seeing this title.

Genetic scissor technology is like a new energy tram. I don’t do any of the three big things. What I develop is battery performance and intelligent systems. Batteries need longer driving range, faster charging, and better safety, and intelligent systems must also develop in the direction of driverless driving.

Professor Shi thought carefully for a moment and realized that this idea was indeed feasible!
The most indispensable thing in scientific research is all kinds of strange and weird ideas, but most of them are fantasy and cannot be realized. The ones that are truly feasible are probably not even 10% feasible.

But genetic scissors technology is completely different. This technology does not use Fok1 endonuclease to cut, but uses Cas9 protein to cut gene fragments.

Without the previous accumulation of technology, it would obviously be impossible to make a chip of a few nanometers from the beginning.

Then he started to read the introduction of the paper, which was just over 200 words long. Professor Shi finished it quickly.

Other scientific fields probably follow this development pattern.

"Using the CRISPR immune system of bacteria to do gene editing? How could you have such a strange idea? This thinking is so revolutionary!"

Scientists in the past studied gene editing technology, just like developing gasoline trucks. They were thinking about how to improve engine performance, how to save fuel, how to improve handling, how to adjust the chassis, etc. Everyone was trying to find ways to combine the three components of gasoline trucks. If the big items are done well, people who buy cars will go for the three big items.

The same is true for genetic scissor technology, which is a new track.

For example, gene editing technology, the zinc finger nuclease technology that was widely used at the time, and the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology that is being studied, both use something called Fok1 endonuclease to cut gene fragments. , the only difference is how to induce this Fok1 endonuclease.

"It's really a new gene editing technology! And this new technology is completely different from previous gene editing technologies in principle!" Professor Shi took a breath of air.

Although both petrol cars and electric cars are cars, their research and development directions are completely different. It can be said that they are on two completely different tracks.

"I heard that this Zhang Wei is only twenty years old, but he has such a transcendent thinking ability. I must see him with my own eyes next time I return to China."

And when he finished reading the entire paper, his expression became completely dull, and his heart couldn't calm down for a long time.

It can be said that without the theoretical basis of the former, there would be no technological research and development of the latter.

The simplest example is chip manufacturing. From the era of microtubes, to the era of transistors, to the era of integrated circuits, to the current era of ultra-large integrated circuits, to put it bluntly, it is based on the original basis, regardless of improvements and improvements, and squeezed bit by bit. Toothpaste squeezed out.

The development of science and technology is often accumulated step by step. Many new technologies are based on old technologies. Through continuous improvement and upgrading, process improvements, cost reductions, and efficiency improvements are finally formed. technology.

These are two completely different technologies in principle. Even without zinc finger nuclease technology, the birth of genetic scissors will not be delayed.

Professor Shi continued to read the text of the paper. As the content deepened, his expression gradually became serious.

This is probably like the difference between a gas car and an electric car. Although oil trucks and trams are both cars, with four wheels pulling people around, their working principles are completely different.

A senior molecular biologist like Professor Shi certainly knows what it means to create a brand new gene editing technology. After a brief shock, he fell into deep thought again.

"This CRISPR-Cas9 is indeed a new technology, but compared with the old technology, who will have more advantages? Can it replace the original old technology?"

Professor Shi first thought of the zinc finger nuclease technology that was widely used at the time, and then began to compare it with genetic scissors.

Let’s not discuss work efficiency. In terms of cost alone, genetic scissors can completely defeat zinc finger nuclease technology.

Zinc finger nuclease synthesis is difficult and expensive. The minimum cost of an experiment is US$5000. Using zinc finger nuclease technology for gene editing is a waste of money!

As for the CRISPR-Cas9 used by the genetic scissors, it is originally the immune system of bacteria. All kinds of bacteria can produce it. Even if you go to the toilet and get some E. coli, you can produce CRISPR-Cas9 protein.

In terms of cost, there is no comparison between the sky and the earth.

Even if the genetic scissors are less efficient, I can’t stand being cheap!

For the money you spend on one experiment using zinc finger nuclease, Gene Scissors can do a hundred experiments, and the final success rate will be dozens of times higher.

But at this point, zinc finger nuclease technology will definitely be eliminated!

Thinking of this, a ray of joy suddenly appeared on Professor Shi's face. If a new technology can eliminate the existing technology, it is already a success!
Then Professor Shi remembered the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology being developed by major scientific research institutes.

The transcription activator was discovered in Xanthomonas, which is also a very common pathogenic bacteria. It can be found on the yellow grass in roadside green belts, so the cost is also very low, and zinc can also be obtained. Refers to nuclease technology.

In terms of cost, genetic scissors technology has no advantage.

Since the costs are almost the same, we can only compare efficiency.

In principle, the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology is actually the same as zinc finger nuclease, but the cost is lower. In terms of efficiency, the gap is not very big.

Therefore, Professor Shi directly compared the efficiency of genetic scissors and zinc finger nuclease technology.

"Regardless of off-target factors, zinc finger nuclease technology can have a target every at least 500 bases! How many CRISPR-Cas9s are there?"

Professor Shi read the paper again and saw the content about PAM cutting points.

"An arbitrary nucleotide plus two guanines? Don't have too many such structures in the gene sequence! As long as your luck is not too bad, there will be several such cutting points in 500 bases!"

More cutting points naturally means higher efficiency.

"Cheaper and more efficient, this is a revolutionary technology! The entire field of molecular biology is about to change!" Thinking of this, Professor Shi's hands holding the paper began to tremble.

The next second, he suddenly realized that this revolutionary achievement was actually made by Chinese scientists from Tsinghua University!

"Change lane and overtake!"

These four words flashed through Professor Shi’s mind!

There is a saying called "overtaking in corners". This situation is very common on the racing track. Almost all overtaking on the track occurs in corners.

In economics, this term also applies to all fields related to development, including technological development, referring to catching up from behind.

However, genetic scissors technology has a completely different theoretical basis from previous gene editing technologies. This is equivalent to two different tracks, and it is inappropriate to describe overtaking in corners. It can only be said to be changing lanes to overtake!
……

Director Wang of Sinopharm Group came to Tsinghua University again with three academicians.

Sitting in the business car, Director Wang was the first to ask: "In such a short period of time, Tsingta University has developed a new gene editing technology. Three academicians, how much do you think it contains?"

Director Wang did not ask "Is there any water?" but asked "How much water is there?" He made it clear that Tsinghua University's gene editing technology had been falsely reported.

The three academicians looked at each other, and Academician Zhang was the first to speak: "I have known President Gu for many years, and I still trust his credibility. I think that if Tsinghua University dares to invite us here, it must have achieved certain results in research and development. ”

Academician Li also said: "The time is a bit fast, but maybe Tsinghua University has a relatively rich research accumulation in this area, and with another funding, it will be able to produce results."

The two academicians spoke one after another, but Academician Qian lowered his head and remained silent.

"Old Qian, please say something!" Academician Li poked Academician Qian with his finger.

Academician Qian sighed and said, "To be honest, I am not optimistic about the scientific research results of Tsinghua University. After I went back last time, I checked a lot of foreign literature and consulted with well-known scholars from foreign universities.

According to my understanding, foreign research institutions have not been successful in developing transcription activator-like effectors. The mechanism for binding transcription activator-like effectors to DNA has not yet been found.

The mechanism has not even been found, let alone the development of gene editing technology. The technology in Europe and the United States is much more advanced than ours. Why can we come up with technologies that have not been developed by developed countries in Europe and the United States? "

Academician Qian's words immediately caused the other two academicians to fall into silence. This is not about exaggerating other people's ambitions and destroying one's own prestige, nor is it about worshiping foreign countries and the moon is round in foreign countries, but the reality of the time.

Compared with developed countries in Europe and the United States, the level of domestic scientific research is indeed far behind, especially in the field of basic sciences, where the gap is even greater. To say that technologies that have not been developed in developed countries cannot be developed in China is really stating a sad fact.

Seeing the three academicians fall silent at the same time, Director Wang had already made a judgment in his mind. He became more and more convinced that Tsinghua University was falsely reporting scientific research in order to trick him into investing in the research and development of mRNA vaccines.

At this time, the car had arrived in front of the Tsinghua University office building, and Principal Gu was already waiting at the door.

"Director Wang, three academicians, please come in." Principal Gu invited a few people to the conference room and began the reporting work.

On the PPT, Zhang Wei took his time and began to show the scientific research results of genetic scissors to everyone.

"Director Wang, three academicians, this is the new gene editing technology I have developed over several months! I call it genetic scissors!"

"Gene Scissors, the name is quite fancy!" Director Wang thought to himself.

At this time, the subtitle has appeared on the PPT: Programmable dual RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity.

"Bacterial immunity? Programmable dual RNA? Isn't this transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology?" Academician Qian said immediately.

"No, this is a new technology!" Zhang Wei said.

"Didn't you say when we last met that we were going to develop transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology? We all heard it!" Academician Qian continued to ask.

"You were the one who took the initiative to bring up this technology last time, so I just followed your words and answered a few words. At that time, I just said that we were going to develop a new gene editing technology, but I didn't clearly say what technology we were going to use!" Zhang Weile Said hehe.

Academician Qian was immediately speechless and thought to himself: "Are you going to play word games with me? I want to see what new things you can come up with!"

Zhang Wei continued to report, which was actually a revision and summary of his paper.

When they heard that Zhang Wei was going to use the bacterial CRISPR system for gene editing, the expressions of the three academicians became solemn at the same time.

Obviously, this research and development idea has surprised them! They never thought that CRISPR could be used for gene editing.

Zhang Wei did not give them time to think. In this report, he had to let the three academicians follow their own ideas.

As Zhang Wei continued to display the contents of the PPT, the expressions of the three academicians changed from solemn to horrified!
They never expected that Zhang Wei had really developed a new gene editing technology, and it was a gene editing technology that overturned past theories and formed its own system!
At the end of the PPT, Zhang Wei also added a segment of genetic scissors technology to compare the advantages of zinc finger nuclease technology. Let the three academicians understand more intuitively the advantages of genetic scissors.

This kind of content is about exalting oneself and belittling others, and it is definitely inappropriate to appear in the paper. Saying that there is nothing wrong with oneself, but belittling others is against academic ethics.

When reporting results, there is no problem in doing so. Just like bringing goods, you can brag about yourself.

"That's it for my report. I would like to ask the three academicians to provide more comments and suggestions. Thank you all!"

Zhang Wei bowed slightly to the three people and walked off the podium.

However, the three academicians stared there with big eyes and small eyes, and did not speak for a long time. They have been shocked by the genetic scissors technology.

In the end, Director Wang couldn't help it anymore and asked: "Three academicians, what do you think of the gene editing technology of Tsinghua University? How much help can this gene editing technology bring to the research and development of mRNA vaccines?"

Academician Qian was the first to react. He sighed and said, "Dip the dumplings in vinegar!"

"Dumplings dipped in vinegar? Do you want to eat dumplings?" Director Wang was startled, thinking, "Didn't you eat in the morning?" Even if you haven’t eaten, there’s no need to come and order food!

He even asked for dumplings! Is the Chinese Academy of Sciences missing this bite of dumplings?

You are a dignified academician, and you came to Tsinghua University to eat dumplings. When word spread, your character collapsed!
Principal Gu replied smoothly: "If you want to eat dumplings, it's easy! I'll ask the cafeteria to make them for you. What kind of filling do you want to eat, old man?"

"Eating dumplings? What kind of dumplings! Who wants to eat dumplings!" Academician Qian slammed the table: "I mean you, you made a special plate of dumplings just to soak up this dish of vinegar!"

(End of this chapter)