Chapter 143: Bringing money and projects, I asked you if you want it?
There was a knock on the door, and the principal's secretary brought Meng Heming, the director of the Department of Biological Science and Technology, into Principal Gu's office.
Meng Heming took a look and saw that there was a young man in the room. He looked familiar. He should be a student of his school, but he forgot where he had seen him.
"Lao Meng, let me introduce to you, this is Zhang Wei, the same Zhang Wei who invented graphene!" Principal Gu introduced.
"It turns out to be him! No wonder he looks familiar. There was news about him on the school website a few days ago. I have seen his photo." Meng Heming nodded suddenly.
"Hello, Director Meng, I've heard about this famous name for a long time, and today I finally met him in person!" Zhang Wei smiled and stepped forward to shake hands with Meng Heming.
Principal Gu continued: "Lao Meng, I have a scientific research project here, which is your major. I don't have a deep understanding of biological sciences, so I asked you to come over and help check it!"
Principal Gu handed Zhang Wei’s project application to Meng Heming. When Meng Heming saw the project, his brows instantly furrowed.
"Research on the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors? Our department did not apply for this topic! All project applications in the department must be approved by me. What kind of guy is this? Reporting the topic directly to the principal? Who is so bold? This is clearly challenging my authority!"
For a moment, Meng Heming had various thoughts in his heart.
Principal Gu seemed to see Meng Heming's concerns, and he explained: "Don't worry, this project application was not proposed by someone from your department. I asked you to come here to analyze how this research project is going."
< br>After hearing Principal Gu’s explanation, Meng Heming breathed a sigh of relief, and then began to look at this topic carefully.
"Principal, the research on RNA inhibition is not a new topic in the fields of biology and medicine. Foreign scientists have been studying it for more than ten years.
But recently In the past five or six years, this research has become a relatively popular project internationally, mainly because in 1998, some scientists discovered the RNA interference mechanism, which gave RNA inhibition research a new direction."
"Please briefly introduce to me the content of this research!" Principal Gu said.
Meng Heming nodded: "First of all, I want to start with NDA and RNA. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, and RNA is ribonucleic acid. They are different in structure, basic units, bases, functions, and distribution.
DNA is distributed in the nucleus, and its main function is to store and transmit genetic information; while RNA is stored in the cytoplasm, and its main function is to transcribe and translate genetic information.
The genetic information of organisms is derived from DNA. , through RNA, reach the ribosomes, and then the ribosomes synthesize various proteins required by organisms.
For example, let's compare the process of generating proteins to stir-frying. For scrambled eggs with tomatoes, you first need to find the recipe. This recipe is DNA.
Then you need a person to copy the recipe for scrambled eggs with tomatoes and send it to the kitchen. This person is responsible for copying the recipe and sending it to the kitchen. The person is RNA.
The kitchen is the ribosome. They will fry this plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes according to the recipe provided by RNA. This scrambled eggs with tomatoes can be regarded as the protein needed by living things.
If an organism needs another kind of protein, it is equivalent to changing a dish, instead of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, but spicy and sour potato shreds, then the cells will repeat the process and copy the DNA. The recipe, RNA is sent to the kitchen, and then the ribosomes stir-fry the food to generate new proteins.
The research on RNA inhibition is to intervene in the person who copies and passes the recipes, thereby changing the final dishes cooked in the kitchen, which is equivalent to changing the protein produced by ribosomes. "
Principal Gu nodded: "I understand, then what is the purpose of studying RNA inhibition? ”
“Research on RNA inhibition can be used to regulate gene expression and will play an important role in the treatment of many diseases!
For example, in the treatment of cancer, RNA inhibition technology can be used to inhibit the RNA of cancer cells and block the production of proteins by cancer cells, so that cancer cells will not grow and spread.
This is equivalent to breaking the legs of the person passing the dishes. If the recipes cannot be sent to the kitchen, the kitchen cannot copy the dishes, and the cells will starve to death. This is the principle behind many targeted drugs. "Meng Heming replied.
"In other words, it is mainly used in the medical field? "Principal Gu nodded suddenly.
Meng Heming answered: "There is still a long way to go from the research of RNA inhibition to its actual application in the medical field, but like most Like theoretical research, studying RNA inhibition is of great significance. ”
“Then has our school conducted any research in this area? "Principal Gu asked again.
"Yes, yes, but the progress and results of research are definitely not as good as those of Western developed countries. In the field of biological sciences, there is indeed a gap between us and developed countries." Meng Heming said.
Principal Gu nodded. This answer was not surprising. After all, it was 2004. China's scientific research was much behind that of the West, especially basic science research.
"Then what is the Toll-like receptor in this topic? What impact will it have on RNA inhibition?" Principal Gu asked again.
Meng Heming explained: "Toll-like receptors are a type of protein molecule and are pattern recognition receptors. They play a vital role in the immune system.
When foreign pathogens When they break through the body's physical barriers, such as the skin or mucous membranes, Toll-like receptors quickly recognize them and initiate an early response against the invading pathogens
After an organism receives a signal from a Toll-like receptor, it will immediately activate its own immune system. This means that Toll-like receptors are the first line of defense against pathogen invasion. Let's put it this way, Toll-like receptors are like sentries on the border in the cellular immune system. Once an enemy invasion is detected, an alarm will be issued immediately, allowing troops to be sent to the rear to resist the enemy. "
"So, the study on the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors should be related to immunology? "Principal Gu immediately understood.
Meng Heming nodded: "It's mainly immunology! Of course, if there are significant discoveries, research in other directions will also benefit! ”
“Have we conducted any studies on the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors? "Principal Gu asked again.
"Yes, there are, but they are all relatively one-sided and not very detailed. Because there are more than 20 types of Toll-like receptors, each of which can recognize different molecular patterns of pathogens. Some of them can recognize single-stranded RNA, and some can Identifying double-stranded RNA, and some can identify unmethylated DNA. Entering the detailed research stage, there will be many directions, and it will be a big project.
Principal, you know that this kind of research is possible. There are many scientific research projects with unclear directions. Not only are they time-consuming and energy-consuming, but the key point is that they may not produce results! There are only so many scientific research funds every year and there are only a few laboratories, so limited resources must be used. , put it on projects that can produce results.”
Meng Heming complained about the insufficient funding for scientific research.
Principal Gu ignored Meng Heming's complaint and asked directly: "If this topic is left to your biology department, would it be okay?"
"Who would complain about the topic? Not enough! But our scientific research projects for next year are already fully booked, and we really don’t have the funds to study the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors.”
Meng Heming's subtext is, it's not that I don't want to take on the project, but it's really hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice and no money!
Of course Principal Gu understood what Meng Heming meant, and he immediately said: "You don't have to worry about funding. There are special funds for this project."
"With funds, everything will be easy! Meng Heming then asked: "Principal, who will be responsible for this project? You must have a suitable candidate in mind, right?"
Meng Heming knew very well that since it is a scientific research project with funds, it must have been done? There is a candidate to host the project.
Principal Gu pointed directly at Zhang Wei next to him: "This project should be done by Zhang Wei!"
"Let Zhang Wei do it?" Meng Heming suddenly looked surprised.
Although there was no one else in the office except the three of them, Meng Heming was already shocked when Principal Gu proposed to hand over this project to Zhang Wei.
"Principal, Zhang Wei is still a college student, right? He should be a sophomore this year? Can he be responsible for a project independently?"
"Not a sophomore, a freshman!" Zhang Wei smiled corrected.
"Weren't you a freshman last semester? Why are you a freshman again this semester? Our school doesn't seem to allow you to repeat a grade!" Meng Heming said subconsciously.
"Director Meng, would you like me to be kinder?" Zhang Wei paused and then said: "If I didn't study as a freshman, how could I choose your biology department!"
"What's going on? You want to Come to our biology department?" Meng Heming was confused.
"Lao Meng, many departments in the school are vying for Zhang Wei. Now he is going to your place, don't you welcome him? And he is going with projects and funds!" Gu The principal spoke.
"Welcome, definitely welcome!" Meng Heming didn't come back to his senses for a while. He didn't expect that such incredible wealth would befall him!
Graphene is a Nobel Prize-level achievement, and Meng Heming naturally knows it very well. However, graphene has nothing to do with the biology department, so Meng Heming has never thought of competing for Zhang Wei.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Wei took the initiative to come to the Department of Biology and brought a research project on the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors!
Bringing money and projects, I asked you if you want them?
This is more than just pie in the sky, it’s like the oven fell down too!
Not only does it take care of your meal, but it also takes care of your meal!
"Graphene and biological science are two completely unrelated research fields! Zhang Wei, why are you thinking about coming to our biology department?" Meng Heming couldn't help but ask.
"I'm interested in biological sciences!" Zhang Wei said with a smile.
"If you are interested, you are interested. Let's study the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors from the beginning. This is a big step! Do you want to change to something simpler?" Meng Heming said subconsciously.
Normally, college students in biology departments take basic courses in their freshman year, such as introduction to biology, basic chemistry, botany, zoology, experimental skills, etc.
Courses such as cell biology, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, ecology, molecular biology, etc. are all required for sophomores and juniors.
Tsinghua University is full of top academics, and they may be ahead in their courses. Excellent students will indeed be exposed to some content from their sophomore and junior years in the first semester of their freshman year.
But when freshmen first enter school, they study the inhibition of RNA recognition by Toll-like receptors. This is really too much!
Not to mention anything else, there are so many complicated experimental operations, can you do it?
Zhang Wei saw Meng Heming's concerns. He smiled slightly and said, "It seems that Director Meng has no confidence in me! As the saying goes, it's a mule or a horse. Take it out and run around, or else Let’s go to the laboratory and do some practical work.”
(End of this chapter)