Liang Ruigang's words made Liu Hanyang dive into the vast and complicated life science literature in order to find relevant information on telomeres.
After a week of almost forgetting food and sleep, I not only had a relatively complete understanding of telomeres, but also had a preliminary understanding of the subject of life sciences.
Telomeres are small DNA-protein complexes present at the ends of linear chromosomes in eukaryotic cells. They play an important role in chromosome positioning, replication, protection and control of cell growth and lifespan, and are related to apoptosis, cell transformation and immortalization. closely related.
Its function is to maintain the integrity of chromosomes and control the cell division cycle. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres of each chromosome will gradually become shorter.
Just like a worn iron rod, if only a stump is left, the cells are close to aging and dying.
Therefore, the length of telomeres reflects the cell's replication history and replication potential, and is called the "mitotic clock" of cell lifespan, also known as the "life clock."
The human body is composed of many cells. Human cells are replicating, dividing, withering, and becoming more complex all the time. By mastering and controlling the length of telomeres, you can invisibly master the code of human longevity or immortality.
In fact, long before the Tiberians invaded, human scientists had discovered the key to understanding the telomerase code - telomerase.
It is a special reverse transcriptase. Unfortunately, telomerase cannot be detected in normal human cells. It is widely present in malignant tumors and has high activity, and can even divide and replicate indefinitely.
After reading this, Liu Hanyang roughly understood the research direction of the Life Sciences Research Institute established by Snate. As Li Sujia said, he was envious of his and Zhou Yun's youthful status, and Snate wanted to use Mecha X1367 to achieve longevity and even immortality. .
It has to be said that Snate really has a pair of super sharp eyes. No matter how you judge it, Mecha X1367 is the most suitable choice. It inherits Mecha No. 9’s attainments and research results in life sciences, and is even more advanced. Good at research.
Xiao Hang's regenerated arm is one of its masterpieces.
The Life Research Institute led by it may have greater achievements in life sciences. However, Liu Hanyang is worried that Snate's personal use of official weapons will drag down the entire voyage fleet for his own selfish interests. The behavior of Mecha X1367 may even trigger human Issues in ethics and morality.
He couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
He excitedly came to the Fleet Integrated Command Center and dumped all the doubts in his mind. Faced with questions and doubts, Snate acted very calmly, as if he was well prepared and confident.
A few words left Liu Hanyang speechless and even a little overwhelmed.
As the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary fleet, Snate has the authority to implement a state of emergency within the fleet when most of the fleet's senior officers are killed or injured.
In a state of emergency, he can establish or close some non-combat departments without discussion to maintain the basic operation of the voyage fleet. This is his power.
The establishment of the Life Research Institute is in compliance with the procedures.
As for the role and intention of the Life Research Institute, Snart also gave a reasonable explanation.
First of all, the expedition fleet is hidden in the dense clouds of Wolf 359B, naturally to avoid the attack and encirclement of the Tiberians. Any act of sending a distress signal to the earth is very dangerous.
Even using the most advanced encryption methods has certain risks.
Even if the risk of the signal being deciphered is not taken into account, using the most advanced quantum transmission currently available to mankind, it would take nearly 3 years for a direct transmission to the Earth at a distance of 7.7 light-years.
Currently, humans can only achieve real-time transmission of signals over a distance of two light years.
Several years have passed since the expedition fleet escaped from Feida. During this period, in order to avoid being discovered by the Tiberians, the fleet has been in a state of electromagnetic silence, which also caused the fleet to interrupt its contact with the earth for a long time.
According to Snart, there is no way of knowing what the Earth has been like over the years. Once the Tiberians tear up their previous agreements and launch an all-out war against humans, the expedition fleet may be humans.
The last hope.
Of course, this is something that no one in the fleet wants to see, but as the commander-in-chief, he must prepare for the worst.
The establishment of the Life Research Institute is an important part.
Currently, there are only three interstellar warships left in the voyage fleet, with more than 300,000 crew members. These 300,000 crew members bear the heavy responsibility of mankind's continued voyage to the stars. They are likely to be the last fire and hope of the human armed forces in interstellar space. Immortality or maximizing their lives can keep this fire going.
If achieving immortality goes against human ethics, then extending the lives of the crew as much as possible so that their physiological age is much smaller than their biological age, maintaining youthfulness and abundant physical strength is also an exploration and contribution to the future of mankind.
Snate clearly told Liu Hanyang that there was one thing he didn't need to worry about. With the capabilities of Mecha X1367 and current biotechnology, realizing immortality is still an unattainable dream, but achieving a life span of 300 years is possible.
In addition, the technology used in Mecha X1367 only greatly increases the upper limit of human life, and cannot simply be regarded as an extension of life.
The method is to use biotechnological intervention to make normal human cells produce a special reverse transcriptase, telomerase, to activate and repair the length of telomeres, so that the number of divisions reaches the upper limit of the human body, and then use genes such as stem cells. Technology increases human biological age.
When the biological age of human beings reaches 300 years old, they will have a youth period of nearly 200 years, which will greatly expand human life forms and social structures, and will have a profound impact on human society.
According to Snett's explanation, let's not discuss the impact and impact of this influence on ethics and morality. In terms of the current predicament of the expedition fleet, achieving this goal is a realistic need and can maximize the continuation of human armed forces. Continuity in interstellar space.
Moreover, for the fleet hanging alone 7.7 light-years away, 300,000 people are a very small group in human society and will not have much impact.
Trading time for space is an attempt by the fleet, and may become the norm in the future.
As for why the fleet has not set sail, the reason given by Snart is that the final destination of the fleet will not be determined until the above goals are achieved.
The time given by Mecha X1367 is 3 to 5 years to produce results. If the biological age of human beings is really raised to 300 years old, 3 to 5 years is really insignificant and can be regained.
Under the premise that this goal is achieved, the fleet may have larger goals and will be greatly expanded in time and space.
Liu Hanyang came back in defeat. He did not get the results and opinions he wanted, but instead became one of Snett's strongest supporters.
In short, under the current difficult circumstances of the long-distance fleet, there is an urgent need to expand horizons and boost confidence. Extending the biological age of humans can not only buy time and space for the future of the fleet, but also stimulate the passion and vitality of the crew.
Therefore, Liu Hanyang chose to support it.
Under Liu Hanyang's explanation, Li Sujia and Zhou Yun chose to remain silent. For areas they didn't know much about, their reactions were surprisingly consistent and they didn't make any remarks.
On the other hand, Xiao Hang has a hundred supports.
Since then, the expedition fleet has been stationed at Wolf 359B for three years. Over the past three years, the fleet has fully supported the research work of the Academy of Life Sciences led by Mecha X1367.
In order to achieve the goal faster and earlier, some non-life science scientists from the expedition fleet also participated in the project. It is no exaggeration to say that the fleet attacked with almost all its strength.
Finally, in the fourth year, the team led by Mecha X1367 made a breakthrough. Although it did not increase the biological age of humans to 300 years old, it was within Snart's expectations.
The Academy of Life Sciences led by Mecha X1367 successfully increased the biological age of humans to 230 years old.
Under this age structure, human biological age and physiological age are greatly extended backwards, and 18--150 years old basically belongs to human youth.
Based on this calculation, the current biological age is over 60 years old, and the biological age is over 40 years old.
Liu Hanyang has just grown up and is still in his youth.
Zhou Yun is no exception.
Soon, the "biological age enhancement" plan for all sailors of the voyage fleet was put into action. The fleet used all medical personnel and even recruited 10,000 volunteers to join the plan.
In addition, all the medical bays of the three starships of the Expedition Fleet were requisitioned, and more than 2,000 large and small hangars and mecha repair bays were refitted as medical venues for this plan.
A spectacular scene occurred. Nearly 300,000 sailors entered the corresponding medical venues in batches under the arrangements of medical staff and volunteers. They lay down in the sleep cabin one by one, and then the above personnel inserted catheters into their bodies. and inject a bioactivator into the body.
After completion, the crew will undergo three more continuous introductions of bioactivators and a 9-month resting state in the dormant cabin, followed by an 18-month complete dormant state for large-scale replication and replacement. All cells in the body achieve the purpose of increasing biological age.
After the first batch of crew members entered the second phase of 18-month dormancy, the second batch of crew members began the first phase of bioactivator introduction and resting state, which were carried out in sequence, totaling more than 2,000 times. batch.
Even in batches, the 300,000 crew members made the entire plan take 9 years to complete.
Everyone on the ship participated in the project, including Li Sujia.
At this point, coupled with the time spent on scientific research, the 12-year "biological age improvement" plan has finally been completed. All crew members of the voyage fleet have returned to their youth regardless of their previous age.
A new fleet full of energy and vitality stands in the universe.
