"Today we're talking about genetics. What is a gene? I'm sure everyone has heard of it, but no one really has a clear understanding of it." The bespectacled teacher explained in an authoritative manner, "A gene is the basic unit of genetic information that encodes proteins or RNA and other products with specific functions... To give you an example, the genes of an ordinary person and a gorilla are only 1% different, but it is this 1% that makes us so different from gorillas. This shows the importance of genes."
He smiled, then his gaze suddenly fell on Ling Yun like a bolt of lightning: "I heard that Ling Yun can do hundreds of push-ups in five minutes. I guess his genes are 1% different from normal people, otherwise how could he have such strength? Don't you agree, Ling Yun?"
These words were clearly meant to mock Ling Yun, comparing him to a gorilla. As a result, all eyes turned to Ling Yun, and many students thought to themselves: "Ling Yun, Glasses really hates you and won't miss any opportunity to mock you."
Most students, however, were watching Ling Yun intently, excitedly waiting to see how this seemingly dull but actually sharp young man would retaliate.
Ling Yun stood up and said calmly, "I am naturally 1% worse than the teacher. I heard that the teacher is very good at making things difficult for people and often asks some tricky and strange questions to satirize students. He has a very vulgar style. I guess the teacher has the genes of a shrew. Otherwise, how could he be so abnormal? Don't you agree, Glasses Teacher?"
A low, suppressed laugh suddenly filled the classroom. Many students lowered their heads, trying to suppress their laughter, afraid to show any sign of distress, lest they become collateral damage and the target of Glasses' rage. Ling Yun's words were truly nasty and incredibly audacious, actually calling the teacher a shrew and a pervert in public. However, most people secretly nodded in agreement, thinking that these two terms were quite fitting for Glasses.
The bespectacled teacher glared at Ling Yun through his glasses, his anger blatant and undisguised. This was the first time in his life he'd been publicly called a shrew and a pervert by a student. Yet, he couldn't retaliate, because he was the one who first insulted Ling Yun by calling him a gorilla, and the other's subsequent retort was far more offensive. Seeing the students' strange expressions, clearly laughing at him, he realized he'd not only failed to establish his authority but had also suffered a public humiliation—a complete loss, a humiliating defeat.
Looking at the composed Ling Yun, the bespectacled teacher's face darkened, and his eyes twitched slightly. This student, both in demeanor and in his eyes, seemed so nonchalant and indifferent, as if he didn't take him seriously at all. Moreover, the look in his eyes was filled with pity, as if he was not worthy of being his opponent. The bespectacled teacher's sensitive heart suddenly trembled, and for the first time, he felt as if he had done something wrong.
Chapter 120 The Glasses Teacher's Difficulties (3)
"Lingyun, could you please explain how genes are formed and influenced in heredity?" Glasses thought for a moment and decided to question Lingyun professionally, since he was more proficient in this field. If Lingyun couldn't answer, he could humiliate him and regain the face he had lost twice. This kid was quick-witted, and if it came down to sarcasm, he might not be able to match him.
This is a rather technical question, and the freshmen who have just entered the campus have only been in school for a little over two months and have only taken a few professional courses. How can they possibly answer such a difficult question?
Everyone could see that Glasses was using the unequal knowledge gap to make things difficult for Ling Yun. All the students secretly felt contempt, while simultaneously worrying for Ling Yun. If Ling Yun couldn't answer, who knew what kind of sarcastic remarks Glasses would make?
Even those who have read the book don't know how to answer this question. Genetics is complex and abstract; it's enough to know the conceptual stuff. If you want to do in-depth research, that's something for master's or doctoral students, not for these freshmen. Clearly, the question Glasses asked is beyond the scope of knowledge that freshmen have learned.
Ling Yun stood up: "Teacher, to answer this question, we should start with the most basic particles of matter. The elementary particles that our current science studies are nothing more than the molecules and atoms that make up matter. And through physics we know that the manifestation of matter is motion, and through the laws of motion, molecules and atoms are always looking for a more stable state."
He paused for a moment and then said, "So, in the environment of Earth a very long time ago, the combination of amino acids and genes was a relatively stable state. Therefore, these molecules and atoms would naturally be more likely to form amino acids and genes. So, the origin of life means that the composition of molecules and atoms was in a more stable state, and then gradually combined into more complex and stable compound states. This stability was achieved through continuous replication and division, which is what we usually call heredity."
"Conceptually, we know that genes are segments of DNA molecules that have a hereditary effect. Genes pass on genetic information to the next generation through replication, causing offspring to exhibit traits similar to their parents. Through replication, expression, and repair, genes complete important physiological processes such as reproduction, cell division, and protein synthesis. This is the influence of genes in heredity. Teacher, do you think what I said is correct?"
The classroom fell silent; everyone was stunned, including Glasses.
It took Glasses a while to recover, and he nodded involuntarily, "Well said, Lingyun." But as soon as the words left his mouth, Glasses immediately regretted it. Saying that was tantamount to admitting that Lingyun had already answered the question, and that his attempt to criticize had failed. It was like a debate between two people; if one side admitted that the other side's answer was good, then it was equivalent to admitting defeat.
The students were all amazed. No wonder this guy dared to challenge the teacher; he had such a good grasp of the subject matter that he dared to face the teacher's reprimands without flinching. Why? Because he knew how. Ling Yun's words left even the professor with glasses bewildered, while the vast majority of students were completely clueless.
"Thank you, teacher. This question is very simple. Is there anything more difficult?" Ling Yun seemed to want to rub salt into Glasses' wound, and actually took the initiative to provoke him.
Immediately, all the students became even more excited, their gazes towards Ling Yun filled with admiration and respect. Being able to effectively counter the sharp-tongued man with glasses was already surprising enough. But this guy actually went so far as to challenge the teacher, specifically a teacher with profound professional knowledge, by posing the most difficult question. This meant he was taking on the hardest challenge himself, because teachers could freely raise difficult questions within their own fields, questions that even a teacher of equal standing might not be able to answer, let alone a student.
This guy is either a madman or a genius, many people thought, but for some reason, most people still vaguely felt that he was more likely to be the latter.
For the first time, Glasses was truly angry. He had always been the one to make things difficult for students, but no student had ever dared to stand up and challenge his authority, especially a freshman who knew nothing about it and was challenging the field of genetics that he had been immersed in for many years. Not to mention undergraduates, even master's and doctoral students would never dare to confront his questioning head-on.
"If you want to die, I'll make sure you die without a burial place!" Glasses sneered inwardly, probably thinking that if he casually asked a professional question, Ling Yun wouldn't be able to answer it for half his life.
"Alright, since Lingyun is interested, then please explain to everyone the differences between genetically modified and normal genes?" After a brief moment's thought, Glasses posed a technically challenging question. This kind of question wouldn't be difficult for those researching the subject, but for a first-year student who knew nothing about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), who didn't even know what they were, the question was far more complex.
All eyes turned to Ling Yun once again, everyone expecting him to provide a perfect answer to the question and deliver another blow to the perverted glasses teacher.
"Teacher, let me give you a vivid analogy," Ling Yun smiled slightly. "For example, right now, I look like a normal person. I eat grains and meat, and I don't exhibit habits like eating grass or eating excrement like pigs, sheep, or cows. That's what we call normal genes!"
Laughter erupted in the classroom.
Glasses' face turned ashen again. He hadn't expected that even a matter of professional expertise could be dragged into Ling Yun's scheme, making him a laughingstock once more. "Just wait until you're wrong, and see how I show you!" Forcibly suppressing his anger, Glasses calmed down once more.
"But, for example, suppose the teacher suddenly develops a serious illness one day, which current medicine simply cannot cure," Ling Yun continued eloquently. "For instance, severe diabetes inherited from a family is known as the incurable disease of the century. However, while we are helpless and can only wait for death, we have discovered an animal, such as the gorilla that the teacher once mentioned, that never gets this disease. So we can refer to the gorilla's gene map, and then use scientific methods to extract the necessary genes from the gorilla's body, transfer them into the teacher's body, and then perform gene recombination, thereby allowing the teacher to completely avoid the family's severe diabetes and completely recover their health. This is called genetic modification. The difference between genetic modification and normal genes is that one is naturally formed, and the other is artificially synthesized."
Chapter 121 The Glasses Teacher's Difficulties (4)
"So, if there are diseases in the body, can they all be treated through genetic modification, such as cancer and AIDS?" Ling Yun's simple explanation and vivid analogies captivated the students, and a chubby girl blurted out the question involuntarily.
Ling Yun smiled and looked at her: "Unfortunately, current genetic modification technology can only be applied to a few of the most common biological products, such as crops like soybeans and corn. Genetic modification can give crops the ability to resist viruses and pests, but it cannot be applied to humans. Therefore, current medical technology is still very limited and can only make limited treatment plans for severe cases. In the end, it is still treating the symptoms but not the root cause."
"If genetic modification is successfully applied, and turtle genes are transferred into humans, could humans live longer, even to the age of a thousand?" a bespectacled boy asked, immediately eliciting a burst of laughter from the classroom.
“That’s an interesting question,” Ling Yun said, suppressing a laugh. “Theoretically, it’s feasible, although we can’t do it technically right now, but we will eventually overcome this difficulty. However, genes are the code of life. A scientist once said something philosophical: everything in nature is God’s masterpiece. If we try to change it, it’s like going against God’s will and we will be punished by God. It’s easy to understand: everything has two sides. If we use artificial means to avoid a disaster, there will inevitably be some side effects. Gene formation is very stable. If we deliberately change it, it may lead to the collapse of the organism.”
"I believe in Buddhism, not God," the bespectacled boy said dismissively, which immediately sparked another burst of laughter.
Glasses stood there dumbfounded, feeling for the first time as if he were superfluous. It had been years since he'd seen a classroom spiral out of control like this. This young man, with just a few words, had captured the students' attention. His words were both engaging and insightful, neither dry nor boring, and always interesting.
Just as he was about to speak, a girl with long, flowing hair stood up with a smile: "Lingyun, then I would like to ask you another question. We have all seen the science fiction movie 'X-Men,' in which the main characters and warriors are genetically mutated humans, also known as mutants. Is it possible for such genetically mutated mutants to exist in reality, possessing some kind of supernatural ability?"
"Yeah, right?" The long-haired girl's question immediately stirred up the atmosphere in the classroom. Having superpowers is almost every boy's dream. What passionate young man wouldn't want to become Spider-Man or Superman overnight? It's a mysterious feeling that transcends the mundane world, and it has a fatal attraction for any dreamy boy or girl.
Ling Yun thought to himself: Of course there are. Right in front of you are living examples, but they are not called mutants, but superhumans.
So he said, "This student's question is also very interesting. In reality, movies use exaggeration and imagination to create a beautiful dream world for us with fantastical plots and superb technology; it's not real. As for whether such mutants exist in real life, I think..."
"There definitely aren't any left," the long-haired girl blurted out instinctively. In fact, this was the answer everyone was thinking, but the intense interest made the dreamy college students unwilling to face the truth.
“No, there definitely is, and it’s far more shocking and exaggerated than what’s in the movies,” Ling Yun said with a smile.
"Tch..." A chorus of boos erupted in the classroom. Although every student hoped to see amazing beings like Superman and Spider-Man, once someone proved that they really existed, the students stopped believing. Having grown up seeing ordinary people, how could they possibly believe in the existence of real supernatural forces in this world?
The long-haired girl gazed intently at Ling Yun. Even though no one believed him, this seemingly ordinary boy maintained a calm smile. He didn't care whether others believed him or not; he was a person with a strong inner strength. The long-haired girl suddenly felt deeply drawn to that sunny, smiling face and couldn't help but ask, "Why do you say that, Ling Yun?"
“I know you don’t believe it, but I also believe you’ve all seen examples like this.” Ling Yun said slowly, “There was a news report about a mother who saw her child playing on the balcony of a high-rise building on her way home. Because the child was young and didn’t understand safety, the child accidentally fell out of the window. In her panic, the mother rushed over and caught her child, saving him from danger. You’ve all seen that, right?”
"I've seen it!" Many students responded enthusiastically. A boy with a mustache said first, "Afterwards, the police asked a world champion in the 100 meters to run at full speed from where the mother started to where the child fell. But no matter how hard the champion tried, he could only run half the distance. Later, it was registered in the Guinness World Records as an impossible event. However, everyone was moved by the power of maternal love and forgot about the strange power that the mother suddenly possessed."
“Yes, I also know another news story.” Another boy immediately chimed in, “A five-year-old American boy saw his father being crushed by a truck while he was repairing a car. I don’t know where he got the strength, but he actually lifted the five-ton truck and rescued his father.”
"Yes, I've seen that too. There was also a child with amazing abilities. He could move an object if he looked at it for more than five minutes. Is that the legendary telekinesis?" another boy immediately chimed in.
"I've seen it too..." The classroom suddenly became lively, with countless people offering their opinions, completely ignoring the glasses.