Free Web NovelChapter 353: Chapter 234: What on Earth are These for?
"Zhao Yi came to the microbiology lab and observed the process of a staining experiment."
"During the experiment, Zhao Yi asked several questions."
"Zhao Yi made it clear that he would come again."
After summarizing the day’s experiences, Wei Shiqing felt that Zhao Yi genuinely liked microbiology and would definitely visit the microbiology lab frequently in the future.
It was a good start!
Wei Shiqing even started considering conducting some experiments specifically to showcase microbiology technology. He immediately applied for viruses with stronger toxicity from his superiors, claiming that he wanted to research them himself, but in reality, he wanted to show them to Zhao Yi.
He thought it would be very appealing.
Think about it.
The AIDS and Ebola viruses are so tempting!
The next day, Zhao Yi did come to the biotechnology laboratory, but he obviously was not interested in other viruses. He just looked at the Norovirus test mixture and hurriedly left with the excuse of ’being busy’."
"Busy?"
"What did he come here for in the first place?"
Wei Shiqing was a bit puzzled, looking at the prepared experimental materials, and suddenly felt a bit depressed.
These materials would be wasted if not used!
What a pity!
In the following few days, Zhao Yi would come to the biotechnology laboratory every day, but he basically just came to ’clock in,’ staying for no more than five minutes before leaving.
"Is he really that busy?"
"Why did he specifically come over just to take a glance at this mixed waste?"
"Is this thing a treasure?"
For several days in a row, Wei Shiqing really couldn’t understand it. He stared at the mixed substance and really wanted to dispose of it cleanly and neatly.
But it couldn’t be disposed of casually.
Although the harm of Norovirus is not high, being infected would be very uncomfortable.
In that pile of experimental waste, most of the cell materials are almost dead, surely containing a large amount of Norovirus and breeding a lot of bacteria. Perhaps there is even a battle between bacteria and viruses going on inside, and it is unknown if the newly bred bacteria will be infected by the Norovirus.
Thinking about it, Wei Shiqing became interested.
What would happen to these viral-laden waste materials after being left for a long time? Could some miracle occur?
He began observing too.
...
Zhao Yi went to the microbiology lab every day to clock in, and the rest of the time he attended classes as usual and visited the Biomedical Research Institute whenever he had time.
His lab was currently applying for a new project. There should be no problem with Yan Xuelin’s part. After going through the formalities symbolically, they applied for an eunuch project--
The research on tick immune signaling pathways and tick antimicrobial infection mechanisms.
It was a small project.
The reason it wasn’t completed before was due to the researchers themselves. The researcher went abroad for academic exchanges halfway through the project, leaving the project to the institution. Two of the project participants were students, so it was never finished.
The remaining research funding for the project is only 150,000, which is not even enough for the leftovers from the last research funding.
The main reason Ai Lixin chose the tick project was that it was relatively easy to study, and the experimental materials were easy to apply for. The second reason was to find a small project to practice. Zhao Yi had a weak foundation in biology, and he had little experience with researching small animals and organisms. A small tick project could also expand his knowledge.
Zhao Yi considered it.
Zhao Yi didn’t mind it. He didn’t necessarily need big projects. In addition, in his view, eunuch projects in the Biomedical Research Institute are generally small projects.
The main reason for this is that major projects are unlikely to be aborted. Even if the researcher encounters problems halfway through and cannot continue, there would be a lot of project funding involved, and upper management would definitely find someone to take over.
Among the eunuch projects in the research institute, it is rare for a project to have a remaining budget of one million. Most projects only have a few hundred thousand, or even tens of thousands.
Those are projects that associate researchers and students practice on.
The current goal of the laboratory is to take on the unfinished projects in the research institute one by one. There are not many left, about ten or so.
Zhao Yi’s goal is to complete more projects and publish more papers.
If he only publishes one or two medical mechanism research papers, his biomedical research ability will not be recognized. However, even if it is very ordinary medical mechanism research, as the number of completed projects and published papers increases, his research ability will definitely be recognized.
The accumulation of quantity can cause a change in quality.
Many award-winning mathematicians and physicists in the world do not have high achievements in their lifetime, but the small achievements they have accumulated in a certain field are recognized by the world’s mathematical and physical circles.
Perhaps it is also because...
The vast majority of mathematicians, physicists, or scholars of other disciplines do not have high achievements throughout their lives.
In any case, quantity does have significance.
When the project officially comes through, the laboratory quickly applies for materials and directly enters the research stage.
Zhao Yi still followed the entire experimental process, and even when he could not participate in certain experiments, he would inquire about the experimental procedure afterward and check the results.
Not only could this help advance the project research, but it would also help him gain more knowledge in biomedical research.
Indeed, the knowledge gained during actual project research is very difficult to compare with that in the classroom. He feels that every experiment and every day of work brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Zhao Yi enjoyed the process.
Of course.
He did not forget to go to the microbiology laboratory every day to clock in and check that mixed substance.
By the fifth day, Zhao Yi finally stayed a bit longer.
He discovered a new situation--
Mutation!
Since he checked the mixed substances every day, all the processes were displayed before his eyes, and using the Supervision Law, he could obtain definite feedback information.
Firstly, there were still surviving original cells in the mixed substances, but their numbers were very few. Most of the original cells did not die from norovirus infection but from an unsuitable chemical environment, lacking appropriate supplies, and being surrounded by a large number of bacteria that crowded out their living space, resulting in their death.
The second point was that some noroviruses had mutated. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
This mutation was not visible to the naked eye, and the specific direction of the mutation was uncertain.
Zhao Yi was also unsure.
He asked Wei Shiqing, "Can I design some experiments in your lab?"
"Design experiments?"
Wei Shiqing was somewhat puzzled. In his opinion, Zhao Yi was just a primary school student in microbiology, with no understanding of microorganisms, and the occasional questions he asked were common sense.
With this level of understanding of microbiology, trying to design experiments independently seemed a bit far-fetched.
"What kind of experiments do you want to design?" Wei Shiqing did not refuse outright, but asked curiously.
"Just this experiment, the staining experiment," Zhao Yi nodded. "I think the dosage of the virus and the cell material should be increased." He thought for a moment and continued, "And could you find a virus with similar toxicity to norovirus and do the same experiment?"
"You still want to do the staining experiment? And increase the dosage, that is, divide it into several groups?" Wei Shiqing didn’t understand.
"Yes, is it possible?"
"It is possible, but isn’t this a waste of materials? There are indeed a lot of noroviruses, but..."
Wei Shiqing hesitated for a long time before deciding that being able to capture Zhao Yi’s interest and bring him into the microbiology lab was worth the expenditure of some experimental materials.
"Do you want to try it yourself?" Wei Shiqing asked, thinking that Zhao Yi wanted to carry out the staining experiment himself.
That was actually a good idea.
Performing experiments required hands-on experience, and it was worth paying more for materials.
Zhao Yi immediately shook his head, "Professor Wei, let’s do this. I’ll direct, you do the experiment. If there is any progress in the research, you will definitely be the second author."
"..."
Wei Shiqing was a bit baffled.
Experimental results?
Second author?
What kind of results could there be with such a common staining experiment, which could be seen even in undergraduate-level teaching labs with a larger number of groups?
"Hahaha, that won’t be necessary."
Wei Shiqing thought he shouldn’t dampen Zhao Yi’s self-confidence. Newcomers and novices always have some unrealistic fantasies, but what matters is their interest in microbiology. He said solemnly, "I can do the experiment for you. If you can draw any conclusions or results from this, they will all belong to you."
"Alright then."
Zhao Yi nodded, "That’s it for today. Tomorrow, once we’ve prepared the materials, we’ll do the experiment together. Thank you, Professor Wei."
Although Zhao Yi said they would do the experiment together, he had no interest in personally operating the equipment.
Those were all viruses!
Wei Shiqing was an experienced microbiologist, so it was better to let him handle it personally. If he saw any danger, he would definitely run away right away. Zhao Yi believed that experienced Wei Shiqing was prepared to dedicate himself to the research.
Of course,
Zhao Yi wasn’t just taking advantage of others. He decided that whatever the results, he would leave the second author’s position to Wei Shiqing, regardless of his attitude.
Zhao Yi’s request greatly exceeded Wei Shiqing’s expectations. He never thought that Zhao Yi wanted to do the same experiment and even add another virus.
"Just the staining experiment?"
"What’s the point of this experiment? You can’t see anything under a microscope, can you?"
"It seems he hasn’t looked closely..."
Wei Shiqing, full of doubt, prepared some virus materials and the next day, as Zhao Yi requested, divided them into ten groups for staining experiments and added a new virus to two more groups for the same experiment.
The main purpose of the staining experiment was to observe chromosomes.
Obviously,
Zhao Yi had no interest in observing chromosomes. He merely looked at the twelve groups of waste products after staining and asked Wei Shiqing not to dispose of them, as he would come to observe them for the next few days.
Wei Shiqing could not understand the significance of a pile of waste products at all.
He was about to go crazy!
He had watched for more than an hour a few days before, and aside from finding the waste products extremely ugly and unappetizing after viewing them, he had gained nothing else.
Now there were twelve groups of waste.
Twelve glass containers held a large heap of mixed waste, which was an eyesore in the lab. He stood in front of the lab bench once again, carefully examining these things but couldn’t see anything.
"What is the use of these?"
"Why is he interested in these things?"
Wei Shiqing couldn’t figure it out at all. All he could do was leave the waste there for Zhao Yi to see.
What else could he do?
