Technological Hegemony

Luo Jia came to the Ministry of Agriculture and announced that it would be formally merged into the Ministry of Life Sciences, and established transgenic as the main research and development direction.

After giving a brief introduction, he habitually pulled the whiteboard and wrote quickly on it, while other people in the meeting room widened their eyes and watched carefully.

Swish Swish Swish~

Not long after, Luo Jia stopped writing, and two sets of powerful genetic science tools appeared on the whiteboard. One was a gene editing tool called the Triassic period, and the other was a gene verification tool called the Cretaceous period.

Both tools come from advanced plant civilizations, but in order to be able to use them on Earth, Luo Jia gave them a slightly mysterious name and made appropriate weakening.

After all, as one of the most powerful and oldest civilizations among the stars, the genetic technology of plant civilization is a bit too advanced for the earth. Weakening some functions will make it easier for the earth science community to accept, and it will also avoid being misunderstood by others and thinking that Luo Jia is a time traveler.

"It's interesting. I didn't expect Mr. Luo to know genetics?"

"Nonsense, Luo is always a rare all-around player in the world. This is something the world has known for a long time."

"This tool seems to be able to accurately overhaul the base?"

"It seems to be like this, but Mr. Luo needs to explain the details..."

Everyone discussed, the schematic diagram is relatively obscure, and it seems half-understood.

After Luo Jia put down the ink pen, he said in a deep voice: "If we want to change the gene sequence of organisms, we need to use gene editing tools, and the current research on gene editing tools in the world has reached the third generation."

"From the first-generation DNA nuclease editing system ZFNs, to the second-generation TALENs, and then to the third-generation gene editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 system, it is undoubtedly a series of great progress. It is still limited, and there will still be a lot of off-target phenomena."

"Everyone who has done genetic engineering understands that, in simple terms, genetic modification is genetic control, and off-target means that genetic mutations are out of control, which is a very dangerous thing that must be overcome."

"So I imagined a precise gene editing tool. Triassic, Triassic can effectively realize free conversion of all 12 single bases without additional DNA templates, and can also achieve precise insertion of multiple bases and Deletion, according to the data simulation test, the Triassic can insert up to 44bp bases and delete 80bp bases."

"Compared to the third-generation CRISPR system, the Triassic has two biggest differences. The first is the modification of single-stranded guide RNA (sgRNA),

A piece of RNA sequence is added at its end, the newly obtained RNA, I call it pegRNA, and then Cas9 nickase is fused with reverse transcriptase to obtain a new fusion protein, and then forms a dual role with the end sequence of pegRNA..."

In this world, genetic science is definitely one of the most difficult and obscure subjects, and Luo Jia's words are also full of various obscure professional terms.

Needless to mention professional matters, what is worth mentioning is the idea. This time, Luo Jia was very clever and did not copy the gene editing tools of plant civilization, but cleverly integrated with the third-generation tools on the earth, using the advanced technology of the plant family to give The third generation tool adds two new features.

It seems that Luo Jia is only based on the research results of his predecessors. Two improvements have been made, but these two improvements make the old tools the finishing touch, and even make a huge improvement.

"Great, what a genius design!"

"With this set of tools, precise genetic control can be achieved!"

Before Du Wei, the director of agriculture, could speak, Wen Chengfeng yelled loudly. He had already seen that after the addition of two new features, the gene editing tools became more precise, and the off-target rate dropped sharply.

Luo Jia looked calm and calm, and didn't care that much, because it was really nothing. In fact, the tools Lan Yu gave him were stronger, unbelievably powerful, and could even cultivate terrifying aliens. plant.

However, in line with the principle of gradual and orderly progress, Luo Jia only revealed a small part of it to everyone this time. In the remaining days, he will continue to insinuate and lead the company's contemporaries to move in the right direction until he fully masters the knowledge of the plant family. For gene editing technology, only at the key research and development nodes, Luo Jia will personally end it.

After introducing the gene editing tools, Luo Jia began to introduce the gene verification tools, Cretaceous.

Luo Jia said in a deep voice: "Gene editing tools are like weapons in the hands of soldiers. Weapons don't kill people, people kill people. In order to ensure that genetic weapons will not be misused, we also need to use genetic verification tools to ensure safety."

"The artificial intelligence small star based on the software department in the Cretaceous period can be regarded as the genetic version of the small star. Whenever we perform targeted editing on the biological gene, the artificial intelligence will simulate the future implementation process through complex calculations and exhaustive calculations. Will there be a security risk?"

"Simulating the impact of genetic mutations on humans and all living things, the amount of calculation is completely against the sky, but fortunately we have a powerful supercomputing system that is sufficient to support the operation of the entire mathematical model..."

Luo Jia continued to explain the technology, and after listening to Luo Jia's words, everyone suddenly realized that the genetic verification system is a mathematical model plus a genetic algorithm controlled by artificial intelligence.

Suppose you use genetic tools to modify grapes. Humans or other organisms can calculate whether it is harmful to eat this genetically modified grape. If it is harmful, artificial intelligence can predict it in advance.

"The ancients said that if a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools. If we have these two tools, it will bring great help to our work. Do you think my plan is feasible?" Luo Jia looked around and asked. .

Everyone nodded again and again, without any objection.

Once again, I saw Luo Jia's genius idea, which made everyone admire the five bodies. As the saying goes, height determines vision, and angle changes concept. Luo Jia, who is backed by cosmic civilization technology, obviously thinks ahead and sees problems more thoroughly than anyone else. , more long-term.

Luo Jia finally concluded: "Based on the principle of seeking truth from facts, we must understand a basic fact, that is, plants on the earth will definitely not be able to adapt to alien planet colonies, nor can they adapt to the starship environment and long-distance travel."

"Take the wheat on the earth to Mars to cultivate, and nine out of ten will not survive, so even for the needs of interstellar colonization, we must invest in plant transgenic research."

"There are also starship voyages. During the long journey, it would be great if our crew could eat green and fresh vegetables. However, the limited resources on the starship are destined to prevent plants from being produced randomly like on the earth. Plants traveling with starships must adapt to harsher living conditions."

"In addition to the needs of the earth's agricultural transformation, interstellar colonies, long-distance starships, and the earth's native land, these three major needs are the future research directions of the agricultural department, and none of them can be ignored."

"In addition, we also need to consider the acceptance of the people on the earth. Don't come up with too exaggerated results. For example, 30,000 catties per mu is a beautiful vision, but if it is achieved, most people will probably be rejected instead." I was so frightened that I didn’t dare to eat such a high-yield staple food.”

"So at this stage, import substitution is still the main way, such as cherries. We develop our own high-quality seedlings, sell them to domestic agricultural institutions at low prices, and compete with international seedling suppliers to drive them out of the market. go out."

"You also know that in two months, the space elevator will be completed. I hope you can add a touch of bright color to the synchronous orbit station and even the moon base. Let us be responsible for stationing in space and mining helium on the moon. San’s colleagues, life can be more or less interesting.”

Drawing big cakes is a skill. Luo Jia very cleverly directed the future of the Ministry of Agriculture towards space. After listening to his words, the colleagues of the Ministry of Agriculture were so excited that they couldn't help themselves. It's wonderful to contribute to the company's space program.

In general, Luo Jia's plan is very simple, no one can stop the genetic modification, it must be carried out, this is the unshakable goal of the company.

However, there must be a strategy to engage in genetic modification. The earth should keep a low profile, engage in domestic substitution of imported seedlings, and give the people enough choice. You can choose to trust Xingchen Technology and eat genetically modified food. If you don’t trust it, you don’t eat it. Let the decision-making power be left to the masses to choose for themselves.

However, when it comes to the space program led by Xingchen Technology, there is no choice. Just kidding, if agricultural technology does not develop, how will we expand beyond the earth in the future?

As long as you participate in the space program of Star Technology, you must follow the rules of Star Technology. In the space program, genetic modification is not an option, but a necessity.

"Guaranteed to complete the task!"

"Growing powerful new plants for the space program? We'd love to do the job!"

"I don't like Monsanto for a long time, I just had a fight with them!"

Everyone spoke excitedly. Luo Jia nodded in satisfaction, said some words of encouragement, and then turned and left. After all, although agriculture is important, it is a typical slow-heating project. It is impossible for Luo Jia to arrange it here. Can see results.

The two advanced genetic tools have already been handed over to them. Next, the agricultural department needs to make use of them. To what extent, Luo Jia is not going to ask. Anyway, as long as it can ensure safety, do it as much as possible.

Walking out of the gate of the Ministry of Agriculture and looking at the bright sun at noon, Luo Jia couldn't help feeling that time flies so fast, and before he knows it, the seventh year since his establishment is almost over.

For Luo Jia, this new year has a special meaning, because the completion of the space elevator and the synchronous orbit station will be at the end of the year.