Chapter 61: The Human Proteome Project_1

Currently, Qin Ming's biotechnology is still far from reaching the level where he can manipulate genes; however, the new Umbrella Corporation has indeed developed quite a few bizarre and unique BOWs (Bio-Organic Weapons) through the C-Virus.

For example, the "Corpse Demons," which served as guards both on the submarine previously and now in the research facility, are "Corpse Demons," although they have been killed by him using nanofiber.

These infected beings are extremely intelligent and abnormally strong. Upon sustaining severe damage to different parts of their bodies, they mutate, producing appendages resembling those of arthropods. They retain high intelligence and can follow orders, use firearms and vehicles, and sprout seven or eight compound eyes on their foreheads, displaying insect-like traits.

There are also highly intelligent creatures like Ustanak and the Orga Giant, which differ from the regular units that turn into "Corpse Demons" after being injected with the C-Virus. These two were cultivated from human embryos in nutrient pods, belonging to the stronger class of BOWs. They engaged fiercely with Chris in Eastern Europe previously.

Hot knowledge.

Human bodies contain genetic fragments of ancient viruses. Scientists refer to these foreign genes as endogenous retroviruses. Retroviruses introduce their RNA into host cells, which is then converted to DNA and integrated into the host's genome.

In terms of human evolutionary history, viruses have played a significant role in evolution. Viral infections can change the genetic material of organisms, causing genetic drift.

For instance, it's quite possible that a certain virus currently has a certain impact on human evolution, it's just that for now, we have no way of knowing.

Many evolutionary processes have been aided by viruses, and it's even possible that viruses helped humans diverge from other hominids. What's more fascinating is that scientists have discovered that some viruses could have formed from genetic material that fell off from certain organisms, suggesting that some viruses might essentially be genetic remnants of particular life forms.

In other words, part of the evolutionary shaping of some creatures is due to the infection by genetic fragments from other organisms. The human genome is full of relics and shadows of viruses, some of which are "dead," most of which are usually "dormant," and some become "one of us."

The "dead" fragments are mostly useless, like junk data fragments in a hard drive.

A considerable number of viruses are "dormant" in the human body, such as the herpes virus, which has infected at least 80% of the global population. When immunity drops, these viruses will become active.

The "one of us" plays an important physiological role—for example, the protein syncytin, which originates from viral fragments, helps the mother and child exchange nutrients more effectively through the placenta. Primate ancestors infected by viruses produced proteins that led to a group of primates having larger hearts and a stronger blood supply capacity, promoting an increase in body size.

After reading all this, Qin Ming turned his attention to the research materials on Sherry and Jack. Regarding Sherry's body, the researchers were still at a loss and unable to clarify the specific mechanics of the G-Virus.

They delved deeper into Jack's research. Jack inherited genes from his father Wesker that had been altered by the Ouroboros virus.

Although typically, cells infected by retroviruses do not pass from one generation to the next, the Ouroboros virus infected Wesker's reproductive cells, sperm, opening the door for retroviral DNA to be passed from parents to offspring and ultimately become a permanent fixture in the host genome.

This is also why Jack has an extraordinary constitution and is able to resist the C-Virus.

One a G-Virus human, the other an Ouroboros-virus human.

Qin Ming suddenly wondered if the combination of Sherry and Jack's sperm and egg cells could possibly give birth to a Captain America.

He was clear in his mind that to truly understand the human body, there was still a long way to go.

At the very least, deciphering the entire genome and proteome must come first.

The Human Genome Project aimed to unravel the mysteries of human genes, but even with the combined power of the world's bullies from 2003 to 2023, it wasn't completed in his previous life.

Since human genetic similarity is as high as 99%, the goal of fully cracking the human genetic code is still a long way off, for the genome sequence is like a book without words. Scientists have only deciphered part of it; whether some sequences contain genetic codes or what traits certain genes determine remains unclear.

The Proteome Project:

Proteins, carbon-based macromolecules, are fundamental components of the human body, composed of amino acids linked by dehydration condensation to form polypeptide chains that coil and fold into substances with specific spatial structures. These substances can realize various remarkable physiological functions.

If we liken a human to a house, then cells are the bricks that make up the house, and proteins are the clay that makes up the bricks. All sorts of physiological functions rely on proteins to be carried out,

from a microscopic perspective, the human body is nothing more than an extremely complex and precise carbon-based protein machine.

The brain is the most mysterious and complex organ among them, where meaning and thought touch upon quantum mechanics, possessing an uncertainty akin to a superposition of states, which is why Sophon cannot monitor human thoughts, and one of the Three-Body Wallfacers, Evans, focused his research on human brain thinking.

If one wants to achieve the transition from flesh to ascendance by machinery, studying the human brain thoroughly is a must. However, Qin Ming's technology in brain science is still only at a macro cell level, where he can roughly edit human memories, but when it comes to advancing further understanding of the self, or thought, he is at a loss.

Suddenly, he thought of the thought digitalization technology from the world of The Wandering Earth, which could transfer a person's "soul" onto a computer, enabling electronic immortality.

But to truly achieve this, binary 0/1 semiconductor computers would certainly be inadequate; it would require quantum computers to have any hope, otherwise, it would just be a segment of human memory, without any real thought.

Of course, this was all Qin Ming's speculation. To prove this hypothesis, he would have to see if there was a chance to travel to The Wandering Earth in the future, to learn and study this technology.

In order to fully unveil the mysteries of the human body and understand the mechanisms and principles of various life forms, Qin Ming had to unravel the mechanisms and functions of various proteins and explore why these peculiar three-dimensional structures could perform such miraculous functions.

For example, the catalytic activity of enzymes;

motor proteins that can "walk" along microtubules within cells;

actins and myosins, akin to mechanical gears, are also the basic principle behind muscles generating force and contracting;

the remarkable properties of llama antibodies (a fascinating type of antibody found in llamas), for which researchers have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Prion diseases, with special protein structures, can induce surrounding proteins to fold into the same structure as themselves, triggering a chain reaction that causes normal proteins to become diseased. These proteins are extremely resilient, surviving 120-130°C heat for 4 hours, ultraviolet radiation, ionizing radiation, and even formaldehyde disinfection, and are resistant to proteases.

The prion diseases, which are proteins that do not carry genetic information, are the true mass killers, with a 100% fatality rate and no known cure, making things like Ebola seem trivial by comparison.

Existence is reasonable, and anything that exists has its fundamental principles and rules.

If one uses something without first understanding its principles, it may work, but not effectively.

Having knowledge of the facts without understanding the underlying principles is like the difference between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

At their core, it's the difference between experiential science and theoretical science. Traditional Chinese medicine, not grasping the underlying principles, only summarizes experience and patterns, using a set of abstract terminology to describe the patterns of the human body.

It may be practical, but it can't go the distance.

Qin Ming drew his wandering mind back in.

There was still much to be done in this world, and without pulling together the efforts of the entire world, these difficult goals would be hard to achieve.

Fortunately, there was still plenty of time.

And he also had micron-level psychokinesis as a tool.

He glanced at the countdown timer in mid-air, then turned to look at the few people in the lab, and a bold idea formed in his mind.

Why not experiment a bit?