Chapter 186: The Great_1

Jiang Yu laughed, "With such significant results, some risks are acceptable!"

Bo Xiangdong obviously sighed with relief, "You understand these things better. Now, the Star Defense Department is even turning a blind eye to breakthroughs of this magnitude."

He snorted, "Any achievement that doesn't help the space cause is superfluous."

"Don't complain." Jiang Yu gazed at an unformed human organ, "Briefly explain its principle.

"Skip the overly technical stuff, just tell me something I can understand."

Bo Xiangdong explained, "The biggest problem with organ cultivation has always been that somatic cells don't grow according to our wishes; often, what we cultivate is just a lump of flesh with no organ function.

"Previously, many organizations tried various methods, such as using stem cells to first build up the main structure of the organ, and then cultivating organ cells on that basis.

"But without exception, they all failed because the cultivated organ cells didn't obey our methods. When we tried to cultivate a lung, it insisted on growing stomach lining; when we aimed for a liver, it grew smooth muscle instead.

"This is the greatest limitation of current biology; we know which parts of the genome can affect human organs, but we can't make them work for us!"

As Bo Xiangdong spoke, Jiang Yu walked outside; it was hard for a normal person to stay in a room filled with human organs.

Having left the laboratory, Bo Xiangdong continued, "The two experimental results you saw just now accidentally led us to a method that can, to some extent, manipulate the relative genes of organs.

"We dissected the Orange Leaf Assassin and found the motility of animal cells, forming simple organs within plant bodies.

"We know that plant cells can cross boundaries to reproduce; for instance, if you place a tree branch in water, under the right conditions, new roots will grow.

"This operation is analogous to cultivating intestinal stomach cells on muscle cells of a limb. In theory, it's feasible, but human cells have clear divisions of labor, and genetic shackles prevent them from undergoing such changes.

"By repeatedly studying the simple organs that appeared within the Orange Leaf Assassin, we've basically understood its regeneration mechanism. With this knowledge, we can now cultivate the organ cells we desire."

Bo Xiangdong led them to a small conference room and continued, "But there's still a big problem; having cells alone isn't enough. Piling up organ cells still results in a lump of flesh with a unique structure.

"That's when our research on the bioelectric communication between No. 7 Bacterium became useful. After many experiments, we finally found a bioelectric signal that could orderly control the accumulation of organ cells.

"Uh, you can think of it like this, giving a command to the cultivated organ cells to form the organ, so they grow in the correct place.

"Human beings, as multicellular organisms, have subjective consciousness as a unique phenomenon, but the microscopic communication between cells can be analogous.

"Provided the method is correct, genes can, on the basis of this command, produce a structurally complete organ according to the blueprint stored within them!"

Jiang Yu nodded, "Future humanity will be grateful to you."

However, Bo Xiangdong smiled bitterly, "If I'm not mistaken, the methods to influence every segment of human genes will probably vary greatly.

"This is a profound and long-term research project. If this project is indeed canceled, we will have completely lost the potential to engage in genetic warfare with the Trisolarans.

"The gene bombs of the Trisolarans could detonate at any time, and we would have no choice but to take the hits!"

Jiang Yu pondered for a moment, "Your experiment should continue."

Then he laughed, "But first, you need to rest. I happen to be going to Moon City, so join me and relax a bit."

Bo Xiangdong was extremely reluctant, "I…"

Jiang Yu gave him a look.

Bo Xiangdong sighed, "If you want me to rest, then I'll rest! Who wouldn't enjoy a business trip vacation? I'll bring my wife and grandson..."

"That won't be possible; Moon City's finances have been tight lately, and you can only go alone," Jiang Yu flatly refused.

Bo Xiangdong pursed his lips, "So stingy!"

Jiang Yu then smiled at the other staff members, "I'm giving you all a break, too, but take turns watching over the No. 7 Bacterium and Orange Leaf Assassin!"

The researchers all beamed with joy; after all, working under Bo Xiangdong meant they hadn't had a break in a long time.

Afterward, Jiang Yu had Number Three communicate with the Star Defense Department. It seemed they were unwilling to continue funding Bo Xiangdong's project team.

The experimental base would also be shutting down in the second half of the year.

They even rejected Jiang Yu's offer to provide funding to continue the experiment.

That probably meant: If we're not doing it, don't you think about continuing in Moon City either.

Jiang Yu actually breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that in the meeting room today, he hadn't exposed Bo Xiangdong's shortcomings in front of so many people.

After dealing with the official business, Jiang Yu went to the lab to see these Orange Leaf Assassins.

Jiang Yu had a premonition that the byproducts of Bo Xiangdong's two experiments seemed to have uncovered a corner of the mystery of life, allowing him a glimpse into the true nature of life, yet at the same time, it was as if he had seen nothing at all.

Bo Xiangdong, who had been accompanying Jiang Yu, said, "These dozen or so Orange Leaf Assassins will have to be destroyed in a couple of months as well.

"Although we've only found a simple central structure inside them, they seem to have a certain consciousness, one that is far more advanced than the collective intelligence of the No. 7 Bacterium."

Jiang Yu was taken aback, "What do you mean?"

Bo Xiangdong explained, "We... we may have created not just a new species but also found a new pathway for life!

"Have you heard of the concept of a plant civilization?"

Jiang Yu nodded, "That's just a concept; at least the plants on Earth won't have that possibility."

Bo Xiangdong let out a sigh, "But the diversity and complexity of life never cease to amaze those of us who study biology."

He sighed deeply, "I really wish I could see what the creatures on other planets are like."

Suddenly, Jiang Yu recalled a conversation he'd had with Thirty-Six a long time ago: "The universe and life might be complementary to each other, rather than the universe encompassing life. Their relationship is likely to be on equal footing."

Both men stared silently at the Orange Leaf Assassins for a long time, feeling the vastness of the universe from the perspective of life itself.

That night, Jiang Yu rested at the experimental base, and early the next morning, he took Bo Xiangdong with him and left.

Jiang Yu and his companions first flew south by plane, and then took the space elevator to the space station.

After the space elevator operated for the better part of the day, Jiang Yu was captivated by the view outside the sightseeing window.

The surrounding background began to darken; it was already possible to simply see the space that looked like a backdrop of stars.

The ground below had turned into an arc shape, and although they couldn't yet see the entire Earth, they could feel its vastness from this bird's-eye view!

Jiang Yu felt as if the Earth had some kind of power attracting him, giving him a strange sense of detachment and a faint unease as he entered space.