1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 677 Biological Strategy! A Shocking Bait! Inspecting the Research Institute! Are They Preparing to Study DNA?
More than a month has passed since the Global Scientists Conference.

But the shockwaves from the meeting are far from over.

This conference planted a seed in the hearts of scientists around the world.

"So this is what free science is all about!"

"There is only academic exchange, no political oppression; only pure research; no administrative interference."

"The power of scientists working together is remarkable."

"Professor Bruce has provided a bright future for the scientific community!"

The international alliance of scientists advocated by Riggivi is gradually growing stronger.

And no one can stop this trend.

The Bruce Conference was the core of the conference, serving as a guide for the direction of the event.

Following the conference, a research frenzy erupted across various fields.

In the field of physics, the discovery of transuranium by Fermi is the hottest topic.

Soon, the Cavendish Laboratory in the UK, the Radium Institute in France, the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry in Germany, the Copenhagen Institute in Denmark, and the Borneo Atomic Institute...
Experimental physicists at these world-leading research institutions have begun to conduct in-depth research on transuranium.

A new competition is about to begin.

Meanwhile, Ridge Wei sat high above, watching the world unfold with amusement.

He has not yet decided to intervene in all of this, but is letting things develop as they are.

He wanted to use this opportunity to train a large number of nuclear physics talents at the Institute of Atomic Energy.

They will be the backbone of the Pangu Project in the future.

The manufacturing process of an atomic bomb is extremely complex and consists of many parts.

Undoubtedly, each part requires a deep understanding of the atomic nucleus.

Therefore, a large number of highly qualified nuclear physics researchers are essential.

It's like if Ridgeway draws a blueprint, the people below him have to understand it too.

Otherwise, it's all just castles in the air.

When the time is right, Rigdwich will step in and put an end to the debate on nuclear fission!

That day is coming soon.

On this day, Li Qiwei suddenly had a whim to visit the biological research institute.

Because he felt the penicillin program could be put on the agenda.

Once this technology is successfully developed, it will bring him enormous wealth and also benefit humanity.

In addition, Ridgeway had a deeper plan in mind: he wanted to use penicillin as bait to lure out the ambitious people hiding in the shadows.

He was eager to know whether European countries, especially Britain, would still let him go and continue his expansion in Borneo, given the miraculous power of penicillin.

Should we just go straight for it? Or should we politely invite Professor Bruce back to England?

At that point, Li Qiwei will have an excuse.

"If I can't even protect my own scientific achievements, how can I be a scientific leader!"

"If you are heartless, don't blame me for being unjust!"

"My pen and paper can not only calculate the laws of physics, but also design world-destroying weapons!"

Genshin Impact activated!

May 12, morning.

Kuching Institute of Biological Research.

This place is located in a relatively remote corner in the southeast of Kuching.

Unfortunately, there are some risks involved in biology. If bacteria or viruses were to leak, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Outside the institute's gate, Director Bingzhi kept looking into the distance, his expression a mixture of excitement and tension.

He didn't know why Professor Li would suddenly inspect the Institute of Biology, especially incognito.

Bingzhi was a classmate and friend of Ren Hongjun, Zhao Yuanren, Yang Xingfo, and others.

He was also one of the founders of the predecessor of the Huaxia Science Society.

As a PhD in biology from Cornell University in the United States, Bingzhi can be considered one of the founders of the field of biology in China.

He knew that his own innovative research capabilities were insufficient and could not compare with those true geniuses.

Therefore, after returning to China, he engaged in teaching, popularizing, and leading biological science.

As a senior member of the China Science Society, he spearheaded the establishment of the China Biological Society and served as its first president, making significant contributions to the development of biology in China.

Later, he responded to Li Qiwei's call and came to Borneo to serve as the director of the Biological Institute, starting his second career.

As a high-ranking member of the Science Society, he vaguely knew about Professor Li's plans in Borneo.

The biological research institute here is certainly different from those in China, undertaking a special mission.

Therefore, he devoted all his energy to this place, and the biological research institute developed rapidly from scratch.

Moreover, here, he can better appreciate the sense of value that comes from hard work.

Just as he was lost in thought, Li Qiwei finally arrived, escorted by several guards.

Bingzhi quickly stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Professor Li, you've arrived!"

Li Qiwei patted him on the shoulder and laughed:
"Bingzhi, you did a great job!"

"I heard that our Institute of Biology also made a lot of achievements at this global scientists' conference."

"So, I came here specifically to see what difficulties and needs you have."

Hearing Professor Li's praise, Bingzhi felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey.

At the same time, he was excited by Professor Li's keen interest in the development of biology.

"Professor, these are all achievements made under your guidance."

Li Qiwei laughed heartily and, accompanied by Bingzhi, arrived at the research institute.

Inside the director's office.

After serving the tea, Bingzhi said mysteriously:

"Professor, please wait a moment. There is someone you definitely want to see."

After saying that, Bingzhi left under Li Qiwei's curious gaze.

A short while later, he came in with a young and beautiful girl.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Li Qiwei's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yo yo?"

The visitor was Li Qiwei's eldest daughter, Li Youyou, the fourth child in the family, only one day younger than Li Chengren.

Li Youyou, 19 years old this year, has perfectly inherited Li Qiwei's wisdom and Song Xianglan's appearance, and can be called the goddess in the hearts of all students in Borneo.

Especially considering her background, she was practically flawless, and the number of people pursuing her could circle the entire continent of Borneo.

Li Youyou, who has loved animals since childhood, developed an interest in biology and majored in biology in college.

At that moment, she walked over to Li Qiwei, took his arm, and said coquettishly:

"Dad, what brings you here today?"

Li Qiwei was overjoyed to see his daughter and smiled:
"I just came by casually. But you, what are you doing here instead of at school?"

Li Youyou said:
"I'm here for an internship."

“My eldest and third brothers are all doing internships, so I came too.”

"Moreover, the teachers at the school are now encouraging us to start our internships as early as possible."

Li Qiwei affectionately patted her head and asked:

"So, after getting involved in real research, do you still like biology?"

Li Youyou's pretty face immediately lit up with excitement.

"I think it's very interesting!"

"Observing those microorganisms through a microscope gives me a feeling of being in control of a world."

At this moment, Bingzhi said with a smile, "Professor, I think Youyou is very talented in biology."

"Moreover, she is exceptionally meticulous, which is crucial for biological research."

Li Youyou smiled radiantly and pouted her lips in front of Li Qiwei, saying:

"See? Even the director praised me."

Li Qiwei laughed heartily.

Since his daughter is very interested in biology, he will give her his full support.

He's already given his son a golden touch, so as a doting father, he naturally wants to give his daughter an even bigger boost.

After the interlude, Bingzhi reported on the various achievements of the Institute of Biology since its establishment, and Li Youyou listened in from the side.

Li Qiwei listened attentively, asking various questions, and then nodded in satisfaction.

The biological field is also one of the areas he values ​​most.

As a hallmark of the 21st century, biology has absolutely limitless potential.

Moreover, it is closely related to the pharmaceutical industry, life sciences and other fields, making it the most difficult discipline to overtake others by taking shortcuts.

In later generations, China was almost completely hampered in the field of life sciences.

There's no way around it; this kind of thing takes a lot of time to develop.

for example.

It can take 20 to 30 years for an innovative new drug to go from research on its biomolecular principles to its final industrialization.

Moreover, it will require a continuous investment of at least several billion US dollars.

Which company in China has such boldness?
If it fails, it will be a complete loss.

Those century-old European and American companies can do that because they have accumulated enough experience.

Moreover, they all started their research very early on and have accumulated a wealth of knowledge.

Now is the best time to begin accumulating knowledge in biology.

Li Qiwei has money and manpower; he's just exploiting a time difference.

He wants to work for the benefit of future generations of Chinese people.

Finally, when discussing the future development of the research institute, Bingzhi excitedly said:

"Professor Li, the most exciting part of the Biology session at this World Congress of Scientists was a debate."

"More than a decade ago, you predicted that genetic material existed in the form of gene chains."

"Since DNA and proteins are both large molecular chains, they could both be the true carriers of genetic material."

"The discussions at the conference were particularly heated."

"I was most impressed by American biologist Avery."

"His research shows..."

Bingzhi spoke fluently and knowledgeably, demonstrating his high regard for the conference.

Finally, he expressed his hopes:

"I believe that the next breakthrough in biology may lie in the identification of genetic material!"

"Once it is determined whether the genetic material is DNA or protein, then the work of analyzing their structure becomes particularly important."

"Therefore, I believe that one of the future research priorities of the Institute of Biology is genetic biology."

After listening to Bingzhi's analysis, Li Qiwei was deeply moved.

China has never lacked intelligent people; what it lacks is the opportunity to use their intelligence.

Bingzhi's words can even be described as farsighted, demonstrating his keen insight into biology.

In real history, a major debate erupted in the field of biology in the late 30s, similar to the debate in the field of astronomy.

The topic is whether protein or DNA is the genetic material.

Their various properties are all very suitable for undertaking genetic functions.

It wasn't until 1944 that American bacteriologist Avery, through his bacterial transformation experiments, fully demonstrated that DNA was the genetic material.

At the time, most biologists supported this view, but there was still some controversy.

Therefore, although Avery was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine many times, he never won the prize.

Later, with the discovery of the DNA double helix structure, there was no longer any doubt that it was the genetic material.

It was then that people realized that Avery's work had opened the door to molecular genetics.

Unfortunately, he had already passed away by then and was unable to receive the Nobel Prize.

The Nobel Committee issued a public statement:

"Avery's discovery in 1944 that DNA carries genetic information was a very important achievement in the field of genetics."

"It's a pity he didn't win the Nobel Prize."

In the late 40s and early 50s, many biologists began in-depth research on DNA.

Now that it has been confirmed that it is genetic material, the first question facing everyone arises, just as Bingzhi said:

"What kind of molecular structure should DNA have in order to have the function of heredity?"

"The so-called genetic function includes four aspects."

1. Capable of carrying genetic information;

2. It is capable of self-replication and information transmission;

3. Genetic information can control cellular activities;

4. It can undergo mutation and maintain the mutation.

At that time, three groups of people were studying the structure of DNA simultaneously, and their progress was the fastest.

The first was Professor Wilkins' research group at King's College London, where Franklin came by chance to participate in research.

Their main work is to study the molecular structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography.

However, the first person to study DNA with X-rays was the British physicist Astbury, who published the first photograph of DNA in 1937, showing that it has a regular structure.

However, the resolution of the photo was too low, and Astbury did not realize it was a spiral structure.

Moreover, he was a physicist, and at that time, DNA was probably just an ordinary biological macromolecule in the eyes of many people, so he did not continue his research.

The second is the American chemist Linus Pauling. This great man studied DNA purely because he saw an error in the chemical description of DNA structure in someone else's article, and he pointed it out.

The other person replied that you're not a biologist and you wouldn't understand.

In a fit of anger, Pauling switched to studying biology.

He also made the first discovery of the helical structure of proteins.

A big shot is a big shot no matter what he does.

The third is Cavendish's Watson and Crick team.

The director at the time was George Bragg, who greatly expanded the scope of research in the laboratory, which led to Watson's research opportunity.

The rest is history.

Watson and Crick proposed the double helix structure of DNA, a groundbreaking discovery in the history of biology that can only be compared to the theory of evolution.

Along with relativity and quantum mechanics, it is hailed as one of the "three most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century".

In later generations, Watson and Crick were criticized for "peeping" at Franklin's photographs.

However, I have a different opinion.

Watson's ability to propose the double helix hypothesis was definitely not simply due to luck or borrowing from others.

A careful analysis of these people's academic backgrounds reveals that, apart from Watson, the others are all physicists and chemists.

They are studying DNA using physical and chemical thinking, not biological thinking.

This is the key to Watson's eventual success.

At that moment, Li Qiwei thought about the story of DNA and smiled slightly to himself.

"Who says you can't study DNA using physics-based thinking? That's because you haven't mastered physics!"

"I'm a physicist too, how could I have come up with the idea of ​​a double helix?"

(End of this chapter)