In the novel, after the victim exercised vigorously before death, the protein in the body was easier to coagulate and the body stiffened faster. What was the principle behind this?
A protein is an important molecular substance in a living organism. It has many functions in the body. When a person dies, the protein in the corpse will gradually solidify to form a hard corpse. This was because the metabolism and synthesis of protein would stop due to the fact that the body's hormones and other molecules would stop functioning during death. In this case, the moisture in the corpse would evaporate rapidly, causing the protein to lose moisture and become dry and stiff. When a corpse is moved or impacted by external forces, the protein will break and fold, resulting in the formation of rigor mortis. Therefore, the protein in the victim's body was more likely to coagulate and stiffen faster after strenuous exercise before death. This was a phenomenon formed based on the characteristics of the protein.