Chapter 454: Impoverished Researcher
Professor Koman was a biochemical researcher, and the M Nation was a land that wasn’t afraid of its inhabitants having some idea, but was afraid of you having no ideas or imagination.
As an imaginative scholar, he was in the best place on Earth for someone to pay for his idea and fund him as he brings the idea to reality.
But, Koman’s bio-experimental research had already discouraged three major investors from continuing their funding, and his laboratory had to be disbanded because he no longer had any money.
Over the years, he probably already burned through a couple hundreds of millions, yet his research still couldn’t show any returns for his investors. Not even a little.
Ever since the emergence of VR imaging technology, there had been a period where many investors were interested in Professor Koman’s research and all hoped that he could be able to reach a breakthrough in his research of implanting holographic projectors into human bodies. But who knew, it only brought those investors bankruptcy.
At last, those that hoped to be a part of this huge breakthrough had no choice but to back off.
And as word got out, Professor Koman’s lecture only had one guest after selling tickets for so long.
When he saw that there was only one person sitting in the audience rows, he pushed up his glasses and didn’t know what to say.
Xu Cheng asked, “Are you not going to give your presentation just because I’m the only audience you have?”
“Of course I will,” Koman said, “I just didn’t expect that someone would actually come. I held one last time, and there was no audience at all. But now, I’ve actually reached a breakthrough and wanted to hold one again. Finally, this time I actually have an audience. Then, I will begin?”
Xu Cheng nodded.
Koman looked at Xu Cheng and said, “I see that you are Asian, can you understand me if I use some specific biochemistry terminology? I mean, do you understand biological research? I’m just worried that you will listen for a long time but won’t actually get much from it.”
Xu Cheng smiled and said, “Just go ahead.”
Koman said, “I’ve done biological research for 20 years, and mainly worked on the cross-transplantation of human and animal organs, but the premise is that the genes and blood have to match and we have to ensure that the cells don’t die after the transplant. For example, if I connect a human body with a gorilla’s arm, I have to make sure this arm can stay alive and also be connected to the brain to be able to respond to signals.”
Xu Cheng immediately asked, “Did you succeed?”
Koman shook his head. “There had been one problem I couldn’t solve. I’ve done genetic research between animals, but after I involved human genes, I kept on failing.”
“You said you did cross-animal genetic research?” Xu Cheng narrowed his eyes. “You have done genetic research in animals? I mean, the fusion between genes?”
Koman pushed up his glasses and replied, “You also think genes can be fused and create unlimited possibilities? Sigh, it’s unfortunate. In the past, I did do experiments on connecting the hearts and organs of different animals, and after a few success cases, I published a paper on how genetic fusion could create unlimited possibilities. But, unfortunately, no one trusted me. Some animal rights groups even took me to court and I had to pay a hefty fine. Then, I also did more experiments, but I’ve never succeeded in connecting humans to other animals. I just think that if animals work, humans should work as well. Maybe I just didn’t find the right method yet.”
Speaking of this, Koman said to Xu Cheng, “Just talking might be a bit pale. How about this, would you want to take a tour of my lab? It’s rare that I have someone that’s interested in my research.”
Seeing how enthusiastic this old man was, he nodded and accepted the invitation, using this chance to ask a few more questions.
But at the door, Lin Dong dragged Xu Cheng aside and said, “Teacher, this guy clearly wants you to invest in his research, and he’s probably taking you to his lab to try to convince you. These kinds of scholars are not just good in experiments, but they really know how to work their words.”
“No worries, just find a hotel first. I will call you in a bit,” Xu Cheng said to Lin Dong.
Lin Dong had no choice but to nod.
After getting out, he found out that Koman didn’t have a car. Xu Cheng didn’t have one too, so they could only get a taxi.
Koman smiled awkwardly at Xu Cheng. “I spent almost all of my money on my research, so I do look a bit poor.”
Xu Cheng didn’t want to dispel his enthusiasm so he said, “Don’t worry, I’m quite poor too.”
Koman smiled. “You think I’m trying to get you to invest in my research?”
Speaking of this, he bitterly smiled. “In fact, I already spent my last dime on posting an ad for this speech. I don’t mind telling you, as a researcher, I was obviously exposed to a lot of radiation. I’m already over 70, and my body’s not well anymore. Last time I went to the hospital for a checkup, I found out that I had stage 4 cancer. I just want to share everything I’ve found through my research with the world one last time before I die. I’m very happy that at least you showed up to my lecture.”
As they chatted, the car arrived at Koman’s lab.
It was a very shabby basement.
The whole lab was quite compact and narrow, but it did have a lot of equipment.
“Come on in. It’s a bit simple, and I don’t have anything I can offer you.”
Xu Cheng followed him in and said, “Mr. Koman, you are not scared of me having ulterior intentions following you here?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Koman shrugged his shoulders. “What can you find here that’s worth much money? To be honest, most people wouldn’t even want to come in here. There are dead animals everywhere, and the smell is very heavy.”
Xu Cheng walked around and looked at the memos hanging on the wall and browsed the serum and gene tubes that Koman was studying.
On the table, there was a photo of him and a girl in her early twenties.
“Your daughter?” Xu Cheng asked.
“My granddaughter.” Koman smiled. He gently picked up the photo frame with one hand and said, “My son and his wife both used to work in this lab. But, one of them got contaminated, and since they also have couple-activities, both of them were inevitably infected and died. My granddaughter thinks it was me that caused the death of her parents, so she would never want to see me again.”
The old man wiped away his tears and said, “Alright, let’s talk about the research. I’m just afraid that no one else in the future will want to hear me talk about these things.”
Xu Cheng directly asked him, “What kind of chemical reaction will the fusion of genes produce? Have you done research in this area?”
Koman nodded. “Yes, and it’s pretty magical. The reason I think genes can be changed or fused was I discovered it based on the principle of animal evolution. Think about it, originally, some land animals were forced to go underwater, yet they could adapt to it and mutate their genes to become aquatic animals and vice versa. Some animals evolved to be able to fly. These are living examples in nature, telling us that genes could be changed, and the biggest reasons causing the changes are the climate and environment. Suppose we find the primers under certain climates or conditions, can we artificially mutate those genes?”
Speaking of this, Professor Koman appeared very excited.
Xu Cheng asked, “Then do you think, people can live underwater?”
Koman said resolutely, “Very possible! Actually, humans originally live in their mother’s amniotic fluid before birth, so it could be theorized that people can possibly survive underwater too!”
Xu Cheng’s eyes narrowed. Looks like he would be able to learn something from this old man.