Planet Builder - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Hypothesis on the Zerg’s Gene Expression

Sentry Tower, underground space.

After more than a month of renovations, the first phase of the underground space had been completed while the second and third phases were still under construction.

Once the construction was completed, the underground space would be more than three times larger than the space above ground!

The entire underground space basically belonged to the biological research team.

When He Xingzhou arrived, he met Jiang Chan and Wu Rui, who had just changed into their biochemical protective suits and came here to report.

Because of their participation in black snapper mutation experiment with He Xingzhou, they had also learned about the Zerg race. Therefore, after He Xingzhou’s approval, they were allowed to participate in Project Black Tortoise.

However, because of their skill level, they could only become interns at the Sentry Tower.

“Senior!” Jiang Chan shouted excitedly when she saw He Xingzhou. She had not seen He Xingzhou for more than two months.

Although she was wearing a biochemical protective suit, He Xingzhou could still see the flush of excitement on her pretty face through the transparent mask.

From a scientific point of view, her physique was special and her face had a lot of capillaries. Therefore, when she was excited, this kind of situation would occur.

“Um, Ch.. Chief He.” Wu Rui was still not used to He Xingzhou’s new title as he used to call him junior.

However, it was obviously not appropriate to call him that now. It was better to address him the same as everyone else.

“You’re here!” He Xingzhou also greeted them warmly. Previously, if they did not help him, it would be difficult for him to carry out his experiment.

“We’ve just arrived today. We went through many rounds of examination. I was scared to death.” Jiang Chan seemed to have a lot to say to He Xingzhou.

He Xingzhou smiled and said, “This project is too special, it’s normal to examine the participants. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes!” Jiang Chan nodded repeatedly and said, “I saw senior’s plan. It really is awe-inspiring. I don’t even dare to imagine something like this!”

“Yeah.” Wu Rui also sighed with emotion. “If I wasn’t personally here, I absolutely wouldn’t believe that there was such a grand plan in place!”

He Xingzhou said, “We have just started, so we can’t be considered great yet. You guys have to be mentally prepared. The tasks in the future will be very difficult.”

“I will work hard and research well!” Jiang Chan immediately replied.

Wu Rui was a little envious of her optimism. His mood was relatively heavy. Who would not worry about the world coming to an end in just a few decades?

They chatted briefly and then went to work.

He Xingzhou found the person in charge of the department, an expert from the biological cell research institute in Shanghai, Academician Pan Yan.

Academician Pan Yan, who was in her seventies, had not left the Watchtower Research Institute for more than a month since she came here. She had personally formed a team and mobilized various resources to promote research.

“Academician Pan, you’ve worked hard,” He Xingzhou sighed when he saw her tired expression.

“It’s all for the Chinese people. There’s no need to talk about hard work. Everyone is working hard too!” Pan Yan did not care about this at all. She said, “Chief He, I’ve already gotten people to bring back the 147 mutated biological experiments that we gathered from all over the world.”

“There are many types here including vertebrates and invertebrates.”

In the first phase of the research base, a variety of biological cultivation vessels had been established.

These were specially custom made. Not only does it have biological cultivation functions, there are safety measures put in place.

The glass was made from a special material that was both bullet and explosion proof with the ability to induce electric current paralysis, safety control, and sedation amongst other things to the creatures inside.

The base was guarded 24/7 by a small army with live ammunition, ensuring that there would be no biological accidents.

He Xingzhou took a look at the underground research space’s mutated creature culture room. Each of the custom made tanks was filled with all kinds of mutated species.

There were fish that had grown limbs, shellfish that became several times bigger, mollusks with sharp teeth and sharp claws, and so on.

Right now, the degree of Zerg gene mutation in these creatures was not that high. Even if they were discovered by regular people, they would be treated as deformed creatures.

“We have tanks filled with different environments for these mutated species. Some of these tanks have water with nuclear radiation, some have biological cultivation fluid that contain nutrients while some have just ordinary sea water. We even have tanks with fresh water and water-free environment. After comparing the multiple sets of experimental conditions, we were able to come up with a preliminary conclusion.”

“These mutated creatures can adapt very well to their living environment. Additionally, the gene expressions in their body will mutate according to the environment and living conditions.”

“For example, some deep-sea species, due to the fact that they live in an environment with much higher water pressure, would die if they left the deep seas because of the imbalance between internal and external pressure. However, the deep sea creatures that have the Zerg genes were able to adjust the balance of pressure and adapt to life outside of the deep seas.”

“We put another type of species in a water-free environment for a few days. Not only did it not die, it grew lung-like organs instead!”

The more Academician Pan talked about it, the more terrified she became. “This is too scary. They can adapt to various types of environment and make changes to their body easily!”

He Xingzhou frowned slightly and said, “Academician Pan, do you still remember what I mentioned in the previous analysis report?”

“I think that the Zerg gene is a very broad concept. It doesn’t just refer to a single gene, but an incomparably large gene pool!”

“It contains countless information. When the environment changes, the corresponding gene will be expressed!”

“How can a single species have so many gene expressions? This doesn’t conform to common sense!” Pan Yan said doubtfully.

“Academician Pan, I don’t think we should study the Zerg as a species, but as an alien life form,” He Xingzhou reminded.

“In biology, isn’t there a technology called the Biochip?” He Xingzhou said, “We can think of this as if every mutated creature has a Biochip in their body. When external environment changes, the biochip will choose the most suitable gene expression for the creature and allow it to evolve and conform.”

Biochip referred to gene chips, protein chips, polysaccharide chips, and neuron chips. They used a large number of biological macromolecules to form a dense two-dimensional molecular array. Just like computer chips, they could store information.

Most importantly, in theory, the information molecules stored in biological chips were much higher than the information molecules stored in silicon-based chips!

“Biochips?” It wasn’t as if Pan Yan had not thought about this before, she didn’t dare believe in something like this!

If these mutated creatures really had biochips in their bodies, then it could only mean one thing!

The so-called Zerg race is a highly intelligent race. It was possible that they came from another planet!

Then the threat level of the Zerg would rise to another level!

“If we can find the biochip of the Zerg and decode it, we will be understand them and deal with them!” He Xingzhou said.

Pan Yan was silent for a few seconds, and then she sighed, “It’s difficult, too difficult!”

“We also wanted to do the same thing. We wanted to observe their biological information more carefully, but with our understanding and technology, it’s basically as if there was a mountain blocking our way, rendering us blind and unable to move forward!”