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

Chapter 184: Find Tsinghua University and buy patents!
An academic conference on gene editing technology is being held at Columbia University in New York. The topic discussed was the study of transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology.

In a corner, Professor Brown was holding the latest issue of the journal "Science" and was fascinated by it.

He is originally a relatively introverted person and is not very good at communication. Even in this kind of academic conference, he does not like to chat with others. Instead, he chooses to find an inconspicuous place to read academic journals.

At this time, he had already seen Zhang Wei's paper on genetic scissors.

"Bacteria's CRISPR system! You can actually think of using this method for gene editing!"

Professor Brown couldn't wait to continue reading the paper, carefully staring at the experimental data and reading it several times.

"This is a brand new gene editing technology!"

The next second, Professor Brown looked up at the rostrum in front of him, which also read the slogan Transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology.

However, in the face of genetic scissors, this technology is meaningless.

"Professor Brown, what are you looking at with such concentration?" A voice sounded, speaking from another biology professor, Collins.

"Are you talking about Zhang Wei from Tsinghua University in China? Are you two also interested in nucleoside modification?" Another voice sounded, and a third professor also came over.

"This is a new technology, and its principle is completely different from our existing gene editing technology! And in terms of cost, it will certainly not be very high. After all, CRISPR-Cas9 can be found in many bacteria."

Several scientists began to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of genetic scissors technology, and soon they discovered that today's academic seminar had lost its meaning!

"The latest issue of Science was just published today, right? I haven't gotten it yet!"

A Programmable Dual-RNA-Guided DNA Endonuclease in Adaptive Bacterial Immunity? "

Collins quickly turned to the first page of the paper and saw Zhang Wei's name.

However, the audience in the audience began to circulate the "Science" journal.

Professor Rand cleared his throat and began to speak. The theme of his speech, which is also the theme of today's conference, is the latest research on transcription activator-like effector nuclease technology.

"It's not just cost, it's also efficiency! Did you notice that the paper mentioned the PAM sequence as a cutting point, instead of having a cutting point every five hundred bases!"

"Nucleoside modification? I remembered that Zhang Wei published a paper a few months ago, also in "Science". The paper was about the technology of nucleoside modification of mRNA. I remember it said that nucleoside modification can be used This is also the idea of ​​using technology to develop an mRNA vaccine,” Collins said.

……

A few minutes later, Professor Collins finished reading the entire paper, with shock written all over his face.

The audience burst into applause, and Professor Rand walked onto the main stage.

Professor Eric Lander is the distinguished guest at today's academic seminar. He was once one of the project leaders of the Human Genome Project, and he also had a significant influence in the field of gene editing. In the future, he would become the chief scientific adviser of the White House, but he was forced to resign midway because he beat and scolded his subordinates.

"Professor Collins." Brown greeted the other party, then handed over the "Science" journal in his hand and said: "This is the latest issue of "Science". I just got it a few hours ago. There is a paper in it, I don’t know if you have read it.”

"It's such a genius idea to use the immune system of bacteria to cut gene fragments. Who wrote this paper?"

A brand new gene editing technology has been born, who will care about how to develop the old technology!

Professor Collins took the "Science" and continued: "Let me see what kind of article can make Professor Brown so focused on it.

At this time, the third professor also took the "Science" and started reading. When he finished reading the paper, he also had a surprised expression on his face.

"Now, I would like to invite Professor Eric Rand to come forward and speak!"

"Zhang Wei? He sounds Chinese. I seem to have an impression!" Collins said.

At first, one person watched it, then two people watched it together, and finally it was placed on the lap of the middle person, with the two people next to it leaning over, and the three people watched it together.

And as more and more people read the paper, there were more and more hushed discussions.

The people attending this academic conference are all scientists who are concerned about gene editing technology. If a brand-new gene editing technology was born, how could everyone resist discussing it!

Although the discussion was not loud, there were many people who couldn't bear to discuss it. If one or two people were whispering, you might not notice it, but if ten or twenty people were whispering, it would seem a bit chaotic.

On the podium, Professor Rand was a little annoyed. I was talking endlessly up there, but you guys below just didn't listen carefully. You were still whispering there. You really thought I was here as a technical school!

The next second, Professor Rand suddenly stopped speaking and looked at the people in the audience with a gloomy expression.

Professor Rand suddenly stopped talking, and the discussion in the audience stopped. All eyes were focused on Professor Rand.

This is really like a class in a technical school. The teacher is giving a serious lecture, and no students are listening. If the teacher does something else, such as answering the phone, blowing his nose, or scratching his butt, the students' attention will immediately Focus on the teacher.

When the conference room became quiet, Professor Rand said: "You are all excellent scientists and adults. I hope you can respect the discipline of the seminar!
I just saw a lot of people whispering to each other. This will not affect me, but it will also disturb other people. This is a public place, and I think everyone should respect this environment and respect each other's right to listen.

Maybe you will think that what I am talking about is too superficial or too boring, but this is not the reason for us to disturb others. If you have any questions about what I said, you can ask me later and we will discuss it together.

But remember, staying focused and quiet when others are speaking is a sign of respect for yourself and others, as well as respect for the speaker! "

As soon as Professor Rand finished speaking, an exclamation suddenly rang out: "Oh my God! How could you have such a genius idea!"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to this person, but this person turned a blind eye and continued to stare at the "Science" in his hand, obviously completely addicted to the paper.

The person next to him quickly pushed him, and then the man realized what he was doing. Looking at the surprised looks of everyone around him, he also realized that he had just lost his composure.

"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I was reading the paper just now, and I was too focused on it. The genetic scissors introduced here are too surprising!" The man quickly stood up and apologized.

"Gene scissors? What are those?" Although Professor Rand was very unhappy, he couldn't help but ask after hearing this new term.

"It is a brand-new gene editing technology. This technology uses the CRISPR immune system of bacteria to cut gene fragments to achieve gene editing." The person answered immediately.

"Is there such a technology?" Professor Rand looked confused.

Someone immediately passed the "Science" to Professor Rand.

Professor Rand quickly read the paper and was shocked. He has realized that genetic scissors are cheaper and more efficient than existing technologies!
Immediately afterwards, a capital embarrassment appeared on Professor Rand's face.

Others have announced new gene editing technologies, but I am still on the podium beeping about how to develop old technologies! Isn’t this an obvious joke?
Although Professor Rand was in a very bad mood, he was embarrassed to get angry in front of so many colleagues. He could only suppress the unhappiness in his heart, put on a very gentlemanly appearance, and then said:
"Today's seminar is to discuss gene editing technology. Since a gene editing technology has emerged, we might as well discuss this new technology!"

……

Although Zhang Wei did not participate in this academic conference, it became a launch conference for genetic scissors technology.

Everyone is an expert in this field. Although they don't know the technical details of genetic scissors, every scholar here has a very solid academic foundation. The discussion became more intense, and some people even seemed to be quarreling.

This is the case with topic discussions. The more professional the topic, the harder it is to reach consensus. For example, in debates where you are given time to prepare in advance, it is easy to end up in a situation where the public is right and the mother-in-law is right.

Just like the military fan forum, a post often covers many floors, and each floor seems to be well-founded.

Because military fans tend to be a relatively professional group, most military fans will learn military knowledge by themselves. When it comes to fighting, from tactics to strategy, from equipment to deployment, it is a clear and logical way, as if everyone is Han Xin resurrected. , Zhuge is reincarnated!

But online novel forums are different. They don’t require much professional knowledge. Most people just post based on their preferences. If they like it, they will praise it, and if they don’t like it, they will criticize it. If you compliment me on something I don’t like, I’ll criticize you; if you praise me on something I like, I’ll criticize you too. No need to reason at all.

Academic conferences are clearly the forums where expertise is most in demand.

It was also because this was an academic conference where scientists gathered, so after the conference, the name of genetic scissors spread throughout the United States.

Even top scientists cannot always keep their eyes on the three major journals without missing an article.

But if a colleague tells you that there is an incredible scientific research result in this issue of Science, then you will definitely take a look.

This is like Jay Chou releasing a new album. You probably don't have time to listen to the entire album, but if your friends tell you which song is very good, you will definitely listen to it.

Genetic scissors technology encountered such a situation. Not many people knew about it originally, but after word of mouth spread by scientists in the industry, it quickly caused a sensation in the academic world.

Not only those who study biological sciences, but those who study chemistry and medicine are also paying attention to this technology. After all, the applications of gene editing technology are too widespread.

In addition to those studying mathematics, physics, and astronomy, other basic scientific research fields have to some extent something to do with gene editing technology. As long as they are involved, they will pay attention to this technology.

……

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, laboratory director Steven Chu is listening to reports from scientific researchers.

Steven Chu is a physicist, and molecular biology is not his field of expertise, so he can only learn about gene editing technology from scientific researchers.

"I understand. Let's not talk about how much of a revolution this genetic scissors technology can bring to molecular biology. Just talking about the technology itself, it can also bring huge benefits to our project?" Zhu Steven asked.

"It's a disruptive benefit!" The scientist continued: "Just by reducing the cost, we can save tens of millions of dollars every year! The zinc finger nuclease we use now is too expensive!"

"Can we develop this technology?" Zhu Diwen then asked.

"Of course it can. We already understand the principle. It's just a matter of giving us some time and doing a few more experiments. But I just checked that Tsinghua University in China has registered a patent for this technology. Even if we make The same technology also infringes on other people's intellectual property rights!" the man said.

"Already registered a patent? That's not going to be easy! We need to find a way to bypass the patent." Steven Chu frowned.

"Well, actually we have another way." The researcher paused and then said, "We can purchase the patent rights directly from Tsinghua University!"

"You mean, we buy patents from the Chinese?" Zhu Steven had a ridiculous expression on his face.

In Zhu Diwen's dictionary, the scientific research level of the United States has always been the best in the world. Americans have the technologies that others have, and the Americans also have the technologies that others do not have!
Only others buy patents from the United States. How can the United States buy patents from other countries?

What's more, if you still buy patents from China, it's a poor and backward China. It hasn't had enough to eat for a few days! Our beautiful country actually wants to buy patents from China?
Who is he from Tsinghua University? Ranked outside the 200th place in the world. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, one of the three major laboratories in the United States, which brings together the best of scientific research from all over the world, wants to buy a patent from Tsinghua University!

It's like Bill Gates borrowing money from a gold medal lecturer, he can't afford to lose that person!

If word of this spreads, where will the reputation go?

"Is there really no way for us to bypass the Chinese patents through independent research and development?" Zhu Steven confirmed again.

"The technology of genetic scissors has just been announced. We don't know many technical details yet. It is impossible to bypass the patent in a short time. If we buy the patent back and conduct thorough research, we may be able to bypass the patent on the basis of it. Develop new technologies.”

"To put it bluntly, you still have to buy a patent!" Steven Chu suddenly felt like a deflated ball.

His pride told him that the great Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory could not buy patents from China.

But the cruel reality is that if you don’t buy a patent, you won’t be able to use the latest genetic scissors technology. It’s just that the progress of the experiment will be delayed because of this. The key is that it will cost more than 10 million US dollars in experimental costs!

"I never thought that we would be stuck with Chinese technology one day!" Steven Chu sighed helplessly and said, "Go and contact Tsinghua University and talk to them about purchasing patents!"

……

Early in the morning, Principal Gu came to the office. Before his butt was warm from sitting, the phone on the desk rang.

"Hey, principal, I'm Ma Chenglong! I have good news to report to you! Is it convenient for you now? I'll go over if it's convenient!"

The other party is Professor Ma from the Intellectual Property Service Center of Tsinghua University.

"Tell me what it is first!" Principal Gu said.

"Last night, I received several emails from the United States, all asking for patents on genetic scissors! Guess who was among them?"

"Speak directly and stop being pretentious."

“There’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory!”

"The one in California? The one that built the atomic bomb?" Principal Gu asked quickly.

"Yes, that's them! In addition, there are several top 100 universities in the world!"

"Really? Americans come to us Chinese to buy patents! Lawrence Berkeley comes to Tsinghua University to buy patents! If word of this gets out, I will brag about it for the rest of my life!" Principal Gu instantly became proud.

(End of this chapter)