Zhang Han has been very proud of himself recently, with good news coming one after another.
At the beginning, Gao Jun’s genetically disease-resistant pigs made a shocking debut, attracting the attention of the entire Internet.
Experts, scholars and breeding groups have conducted on-site inspections and found that this pig can really survive the ravages of Philippine swine fever. What this means to farmers is self-evident.
Many industry authoritative experts have endorsed the safety of disease-resistant pigs, and breeding capital has also joined in to express strong support.
Although it has not yet received formal commercial approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, that day is not far away.
It can be said to be a good start since the establishment of 'Infinite Genes'.
Then came the emergence of cloned cats, and the rising star Li Chengmin became famous at the speed of light.
The first video he posted of himself cloning a cat has been viewed more than 50 million times and received over 100,000 comments.
Later, I posted several popular science videos on biohacking. They are still very hardcore and have gained countless fans. I have become one of the top 100 up owners of Bilibili.
According to Li Chengmin, he adheres to the basic rules of biohacking and is determined to be a hard-core technology owner. He will never accept any business orders for pet cloning, but he will teach everyone how to clone animals in videos.
Two crouching dragons and phoenixes appeared in the group one after another, and the 'Infinite Genes' group also stole the show and became popular all over the Internet.
Suddenly, biohacking became synonymous with fame and fortune and cool black technology.
Countless young people who were interested sent private messages to Zhang Han, wanting to join this group and become a biohacker.
Zhang Han specially applied for a biohacker subsection on Longtu's forum, and soon biohackers from all over the world gathered here.
Newcomers are here to get started, experts are here to share what they have learned throughout their lives, veterans are here to answer questions and solve problems, and the forum is full of a harmonious and friendly atmosphere.
During this period, due to the surge in demand for laboratories, Longtu opened several more shared laboratories, all near first-tier cities or second-tier cities, such as Jin City, which is half an hour away from the capital, and Zhuhai, which is not far from Yangcheng. City, as well as Wu City and Cheng City, finally achieved the achievement of blossoming across the country.
From the location selection, it is obvious that cheapness and affordability are the most important, followed by convenient transportation, so that services can be provided at the best price.
The shared laboratory in Kunming has become a mecca for biohackers across the country.
Even if there are other options, biohackers from out of town will still come to Kunshi's laboratory to check in, and at the same time gather with their colleagues in Haishi to communicate.
Zhang Han only learned that his group was also popular overseas after receiving a call from his former friend Josiah from Wudu.
Josiah's appearance on the video call has not changed at all. He still has purple hair, metal earrings, and a bio-DIY T-shirt. He is smiling and greeting Zhang Han warmly.
"Dear Zhang, long time no see. Your name has spread throughout the biohacking circles of Europa and Eagle Country."
"I never dreamed that the young people I introduced to the industry would achieve such results in China. Haha."
Josiah raised his thumbs up and couldn't help but admire: "The disease-resistant pigs and cloned cats are really great. They are a great publicity for us biohackers. Your team members are all great. I can't wait to get to know them." They are.”
"Of course," he shrugged, "That Mr. Li has become famous on YouTube. His videos are posted everywhere. I'm surprised they haven't been deleted yet."
Zhang Han smiled reservedly: "Maybe it hasn't violated the fundamental interests of the company. The reaction of the pet cloning company in Eagle Country is still a little slow, but they will react sooner or later."
He looked at Josiah, showed a satisfied smile and said: "Thank you for your compliment, but you definitely didn't call me specifically to praise me. If I remember correctly, we only communicated through email last week. .”
Josiah burst out laughing: "Zhang, you really don't look like a Chinese. You are as direct as a person from the Eagle Country. Yes, I really have something to do with you this time. There is a friend from the Eagle Country who wants to get to know you and invite you." Join a very important project. I’ll pull him into the video and let’s chat together.”
Immediately, a stranger named Deneke applied to join, and Zhang Han clicked agree without hesitation.
A middle-aged man's face appeared on the screen, with a rectangular face, black hair and brown eyes, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and a serious expression, resembling an expert and scholar.
"Hi, this is Dr. Denecke. He is a low-key Ph.D. in protein biochemistry. Although he looks serious like an old man, he is actually very young. He is only 33 years old this year. Three years ago, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to Come to the bio-DIY event and become an excellent biohacker. He is very famous in the biohacking circle of Eagle Country, at least much more famous than me..."
Josiah shook his purple hair and introduced it eloquently.
Unfortunately, there was too much nonsense. Zhang Han frowned as he listened. Before he could say anything, Deneke decisively interrupted Josiah's introduction and smiled at Zhang Han.
"It's a great honor to meet you, Mr. Zhang. Your name has been really well-known in recent times. Well, I am in charge of an open source insulin project in Eagle Country. Currently, there are 25 determined volunteers. We are looking for biohackers from all over the world. s help."
Denecke was articulate, well-organized, and detailed about the so-called open source insulin project.
This project started three years ago. In a community laboratory called Biospace in Oakland, they proposed the concept of open source insulin in order to deal with a major problem in the Eagle Country's medical system-the rising price of insulin. .
In Eagle Country, insulin is manufactured and sold by the three major pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.
The three major pharmaceutical companies in Eagle Country have recently raised the price of insulin to US$300 for a vial, which is far beyond the reach of the people of Eagle Country.
Against this background, biohackers stood up and began to fight against the monopoly profits of pharmaceutical companies.
Insulin is a synthetic hormone that 7.5 million people with diabetes must inject daily to stay alive.
The goal of the Open Insulin Project is to replicate this insulin and publish the manufacturing technology and associated protocols that can safely produce it.
The ultimate goal of the project is to launch a collaborative network owned by patients and workers. The network would produce small batches of insulin and make them available to diabetic patients for about $7 per vial.
At the very least, the Open Source Insulin Project wants to show that such drug decryption can be successful, perhaps demystifying the pharmaceutical process.
Denecke was first drawn to the open-source insulin project because he thought community lab work would be interesting.
He loved the craft of biology but was tortured by the academic pressure to publish.
He reminded Zhang Han that nearly half of the adults in Eagle Country suffer from diabetes or hyperglycemia. However, there are currently no affordable insulin products in the Eagle Country market, nor is there any price limit mechanism. This is unlike Maple Leaf Country and Europa, or even far away. Far inferior to China.
"If one of the three major companies wants to raise prices, they all will raise prices. Because they can raise prices."
He pulled out a page of charts showing the exponential curve of insulin prices.
In 1996, Eli Lilly released Humalog, Eli Lilly's own synthetic insulin. The price for a 10-ml vial was $21; over the next twenty-five years, its retail price It has increased to fifteen times its original value.
Sanofi's Lantus and Novo Nordisk's Novolog also increased their prices.
People with type I diabetes typically require two to three vials of insulin each month. Even if they have insurance, it may not be able to reimburse all expenses.
In 3 years, a study organized by researchers at Yale University School of Medicine found that one in four patients with diabetes reduced their insulin dosage, did not replenish the medicine as prescribed, and took less than prescribed. This greatly increased Risk of kidney disease, blindness and death.
When Denecke said this, he was silent for three seconds, and then said with an indignant look: "There is no technical reason behind the high price of insulin, it is purely the result of greed. Insulin is easy to produce, and the market is so big. It should be as cold as Tylenol." It should be as cheap as the movie."
The Open Insulin Project plans to use protocols from published papers to genetically engineer two organisms, yeast and E. coli, to produce insulin, a method commonly used by pharmaceutical companies.
A year ago, the project team announced that it had achieved preliminary results. They had successfully inserted a targeted gene into E. coli cells, allowing them to subsequently produce a protein that can be converted into insulin.
The next step is to examine the samples using mass spectrometry and other techniques.
When Denecke mentioned this development, Josiah suddenly jumped in: "I recently opened a drug testing laboratory and am interested in testing some samples from the open source insulin project."
“This project is a great opportunity to see if ordinary people have a future in science. However,” he shrugged, “Have you ever considered asking people to buy these life-saving drugs on the black market or abroad? It might be more convenient. "
Denecke sighed: "Insulin can be purchased on the black market. But not everyone has the opportunity, and the system has not changed."
He rubbed his face to relax the deep wrinkles, and then said: "Our goal should be to change its production model. This situation of big pharmaceutical companies making money from people's pain should not happen. We can design Come up with a better system.”
“However,” Denek admitted, “the project is currently facing resistance from all sides, not only from lobbyists in the pharmaceutical industry but also from its own internal critics.”
"Some members said that DIY medicine is like a crowdfunding website for the medical industry. It is a sign of a broken system and will lead to a desperate dead end, because the accumulated power and anger could have been used against politicians and used to fight for universal health care. Assure."
"However, in the face of the profound shortcomings of the Eagle Country's medical and health system, the solution of the open source insulin project still has some hope. We are considering joining forces with local hospitals and pharmacies to strive to integrate our solution with the practices of mainstream institutions. We hope to be able to provide patients with cheaper insulin in the near future."
"The decentralized production of this standard drug in small, community labs may be a way to ensure that we don't run into drug shortages when traditional supply lines are disrupted. You know, drug shortages happen all the time, even in Even in non-crisis times, and if you rely on drugs to stay alive, drug shortages can be fatal."
"If you have a community lab nearby, you can avoid the risk of production line delays and temporary border closures. If you know you can go to a community lab and get a month's supply of insulin for a small amount of money. Prescription dosage and you’ll be relieved.”
"The important question is whether open source insulin can meet the FDA's extremely strict mandatory safety requirements. We are still working hard on this and try to improve the manufacturing process so that people can manufacture it in a safer way."
Denecke concluded: "This is a typical Eagle Country-style project. We have this hard-working culture and encourage everyone to find individualistic solutions on their own, so this project can achieve this step."
After Zhang Han listened, he couldn't help but admire the efforts made by Deneke and his gang to combat the sky-high price of drugs.
He asked curiously: "Dr. Denecke, you are a group of great people. I admire your efforts for the open source insulin project very much, but I still don't quite understand. Why are you looking for me? In other words By the way, we are far across the ocean, how can I help you?"
Deneke's expression suddenly became excited, and every wrinkle stretched out with excitement, like a fungus soaked in hair.
"Dear Zhang, China's biohackers have become very famous recently. I saw Li's cat cloning video. I admire his technology and free spirit very much. He has become the idol of biohackers in Eagle Country."
"This kind of spirit of relying on one's own efforts to bring down companies that have made huge profits is really more Eagle Country than the people of Eagle Country."
"Please express my respect to him. In addition, China also has a great pharmaceutical company. Sanqing Pharmaceutical is a dream place for our biologists. This pharmaceutical company has not only issued price limits in the pharmaceutical industry in recent months Ling also supported patients in making their own medicines, achieving what we dreamed of."
"Moreover, Sanqing has also established many shared laboratories, which is what we have been doing. My respect for Mr. Wei is as gushing as the river water. I plan to use the open source insulin project after the end of , a pilgrimage to Kunshi in China."
"As for my purpose of looking for you," Denek's expression suddenly darkened: "We still have some technical difficulties that we have not yet overcome. Since there are not enough volunteers in Eagle Country, I want to seek help from Chinese biohackers."
"I also downloaded and registered the Longtu app. Since real-name authentication is not possible, I can only browse the forum and cannot speak. However, I saw that Huaxia's biohacking technology is very good and everyone is very hardworking."
He showed an embarrassed smile: "I wonder if we can recruit some volunteers from China?"
Zhang Han pondered for a moment and did not finish his words: "Let's do this. I will post this matter on the forum. If anyone is interested, I will give them your contact information. We Chinese people are always willing to help others. Faced with With your request, I believe someone will lend a helping hand.”
In his heart, he still wants to promote cooperation between the two parties. After all, the biohackers of the Eagle Country ask for help from China. This is a very shameless thing in itself. It can greatly enhance the national pride. When the time comes, the media and the public will not be shocked by the publicity. All fell down.
In addition, being able to communicate with overseas biohackers and strive for the initiative will greatly help everyone improve their skills and status. Not to mention that the project itself is also very technical. In short, this cooperation is definitely not a loss.
Denecke was also very satisfied: "Dear Zhang, thank you, I look forward to the follow-up reply."
