Zhang Han has been very proud of himself recently, with good news coming one after another.

At the beginning, Gao Jun’s genetically disease-resistant pigs made a shocking debut, attracting the attention of the entire Internet.

Experts, scholars and breeding groups have conducted on-site inspections and found that this pig can really survive the ravages of Philippine swine fever. What this means to farmers is self-evident.

Many industry authoritative experts have endorsed the safety of disease-resistant pigs, and breeding capital has also joined in to express strong support.

Although it has not yet officially received commercial approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, that day is not far away.

It can be said to be a good start since the establishment of ‘Infinite Genes’.

Then came the emergence of cloned cats, and the rising star Li Chengmin became famous at the speed of light.

The first video he posted of himself cloning a cat has been viewed more than 50 million times and received 100,000 comments.

Later, I published several popular science videos on biohacking, which are still very hardcore and have gained countless followers. I have become one of the top 100 ups on site B.

According to Li Chengmin, he adheres to the basic rules of biohacking and is determined to be a hard-core technology owner. He will never accept any business orders for pet cloning, but he will teach everyone how to clone animals in videos.

Two Crouching Dragon and Phoenix chicks appeared in the group one after another, and the "Infinite Gene" group also stole the show and became popular all over the Internet.

Suddenly, biohacking became synonymous with fame and fortune and cool black technology.

Countless young people who were interested sent private messages to Zhang Han, wanting to join this group and become a biohacker.

Zhang Han specially applied for a biohacker subsection on the Longtu forum, and soon biohackers from all over the world gathered here.

Newcomers are here to get started, experts are here to share what they have learned throughout their lives, veterans are here to answer questions and solve problems, and the forum is full of a harmonious and friendly atmosphere.

During this period, due to the surge in demand for laboratories, Longtu opened several more shared laboratories, all near first-tier cities or second-tier cities, such as Jin City, which is half an hour away from the capital, and Zhuhai, which is not far from Yangcheng.

City, as well as Wu City and Cheng City, finally achieved the achievement of blossoming across the country.

From the location selection, it is obvious that cheapness and affordability are the most important, followed by convenient transportation, so that services can be provided at the best price.

The shared laboratory in Kunming has become a mecca for biohackers across the country.

Even if there are other options, biohackers from out of town will still come to Kunshi's laboratory to check in, and at the same time gather with their colleagues in Haishi to communicate.

Zhang Han only learned that his group was also popular overseas after receiving a call from his former friend Josiah from Wudu.

Josiah's appearance on the video call has not changed at all. He still has purple hair, metal earrings, and a Bio-DIY T-shirt. He is smiling and greets Zhang Han enthusiastically.

"Dear Zhang, long time no see. Your name has spread throughout the biohacking circles of Europa and Eagle Country."

"I never dreamed that the young people I introduced into the industry would achieve such results in China. Haha."

Josiah raised his thumbs and couldn't help but praise: "The disease-resistant pigs and cloned cats are really great. They are a great publicity for us biohackers. Your team members are all great. I can't wait to get to know them."

They are gone."

"Of course," he shrugged, "That Mr. Li has become famous on YouTube. His videos are posted everywhere. I'm surprised they haven't been deleted yet."

Zhang Han smiled reservedly: "Maybe it has not violated the fundamental interests of the company. The reaction of the pet cloning company in Eagle Country is still a little slow, but they will react sooner or later."

He looked at Josiah, showed a satisfied smile and said: "Thank you for your compliment, but you definitely didn't call me specifically to praise me. If I remember correctly, we only communicated through email last week.

."

Josiah burst out laughing: "Zhang, you are really not like a Chinese. You are as direct as a person from the Eagle Country. Yes, I really have something to do with you this time. There is a friend from the Eagle Country who wants to get to know you and invite you."

Join a very important project. I’ll pull him into the video to chat together.”

Immediately, a stranger named Deneke applied to join, and Zhang Han clicked Agree without hesitation.

A middle-aged man's face appeared on the screen, with a rectangular face, black hair, brown eyes, black-rimmed glasses, and a serious expression, resembling an expert and scholar.

"Hi, this is Dr. Denecke. He is a low-key Ph.D. in protein biochemistry. Although he looks serious like an old man, in fact he is still very young. He is only 33 years old this year. Three years ago, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to

Come to the bio-DIY event and become an excellent biohacker. He is very famous in the biohacking circle of Eagle Country, at least much more famous than me..."

Josiah shook his purple hair and introduced it eloquently.

Unfortunately, there was too much nonsense. Zhang Han frowned as he listened. Before he could say anything, Deneke decisively interrupted Josiah's introduction and smiled at Zhang Han.

"It's a great honor to meet you, Mr. Zhang. Your name has been really popular in recent times. That's right, I am in charge of an open source insulin project in Eagle Country. Currently, there are 25 determined volunteers. We are looking for biohackers from all over the world.

s help."

Denecke was articulate, well-organized, and introduced the so-called open source insulin project in detail.

This project began three years ago. In a community laboratory called Biospace in Oakland, they proposed the concept of open source insulin in order to deal with a major problem in the Eagle Country's medical system-the rising price of insulin.

.

In Eagle Country, insulin is manufactured and sold by the three major pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

The three major pharmaceutical companies in Eagle Country have recently raised the price of insulin to US$300 for a vial, which is far beyond the reach of the people of Eagle Country.

Against this background, biohackers stood up and began to fight against the monopoly profits of pharmaceutical companies.

Insulin is a synthetic hormone that 7.5 million people with diabetes must inject daily to stay alive.

The goal of the Open Source Insulin Project is to replicate this insulin and publish the manufacturing technology and associated protocols that can safely produce it.

The ultimate goal of the project is to launch a cooperative network owned by patients and workers. This network will produce small batches of insulin and then provide it to diabetic patients for about $7 per vial.

At the very least, the Open Source Insulin Project wants to show that such drug decryption can be successful, which might demystify the pharmaceutical process.

Denecke was first drawn to the open-source insulin project because he thought community lab work would be interesting.

He enjoyed the craft of biology, but was tortured by the academic pressure of publishing articles.

He reminded Zhang Han that nearly half of the adults in Eagle Country suffer from diabetes or high blood sugar. However, there are currently no affordable insulin products in the Eagle Country market, nor is there any price limit mechanism. This is unlike Maple Leaf Country and Europa, or even far away.

Far inferior to China.

"If one of the three major companies wants to raise prices, then they will all raise prices. Because they can raise prices."

He pulled out a page of charts showing the exponential curve of insulin prices.

In 1996, Eli Lilly released Humalog, Eli Lilly’s own synthetic insulin. The price for a 10-ml vial was $21; over the next twenty-five years, its retail price

It has increased to fifteen times its original value.

ntus) and Novo Nordisk's Novolog also increased their prices.

People with type I diabetes usually need two to three vials of insulin every month. Even if they have insurance, it may not be able to reimburse all the costs.

In 3 years, a study organized by researchers at Yale University School of Medicine found that one in four diabetic patients reduced their insulin dosage, did not replenish the medicine as prescribed, and took less than prescribed, which greatly increased the risk.

Risk of kidney disease, blindness and death.

When Denecke said this, he was silent for three seconds, and then said with an indignant look: "There is no technical reason behind the high price of insulin, it is purely the result of greed. Insulin is easy to produce, and the market is so big. It should be as cold as Tylenol

It should be as cheap as the film."

The Open Insulin Project plans to use protocols from published papers to genetically engineer two organisms (yeast and E. coli) to produce insulin, a method commonly used by pharmaceutical companies.

A year ago, the project team announced that it had achieved preliminary results. They had successfully inserted a targeted gene into E. coli cells, allowing them to subsequently produce a protein that can be converted into insulin.

The next step is to examine the samples using mass spectrometry and other techniques.

When Denecke mentioned this development, Josiah suddenly jumped in: "I recently opened a drug testing laboratory and am interested in testing some samples from the open source insulin project."

"This project is an excellent opportunity to see whether ordinary people have a future in science. However," he shrugged, "have you ever considered asking people to buy these life-saving drugs on the black market or abroad, which may be more convenient.

"

Denecke sighed: "Insulin can be purchased on the black market. But not everyone has the opportunity, and the system has not changed."

He rubbed his face to relax the deep wrinkles, and then said: "Our goal should be to change its production model. This situation of big pharmaceutical companies making money from people's pain should not happen. We can design

Come up with a better system.”

"However," Denecke acknowledged, "the project is currently facing resistance from all sides. In addition to lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry, the project also has its own internal critics."

"Some members said that DIY medicine is like a crowdfunding website for the medical industry. It is a sign of a broken system and will lead to a desperate dead end, because the accumulated power and anger could have been used against politicians and used to fight for universal health care.

Assure."

"However, in the face of the profound shortcomings of the Eagle Country's medical and health system, the solution of the open source insulin project still has some hope. We are considering joining forces with local hospitals and pharmacies to strive to integrate our solution with the practices of mainstream institutions.

We hope to be able to provide patients with cheaper insulin in the near future."

"The decentralized production of this standard drug in small, community labs may be a way to ensure that we don't run into drug shortages when traditional supply lines are disrupted. You know, drug shortages happen all the time, even in

Even in non-crisis times, and if you rely on drugs to survive, drug shortages can be fatal."

"If you have a community lab nearby, you can avoid the risks of production line delays and temporary border closures. If you know you can go to a community lab and get a month's worth of insulin for just a small amount of money.

Use the prescribed amount and you’ll be relieved.”

"The important question is whether open source insulin can meet the FDA's extremely strict mandatory safety requirements. We are still working hard on this and try to improve the manufacturing process so that people can manufacture it in a safer way."

Denecke concluded: "This is a typical Eagle Country-style project. We have this hard-working culture and encourage everyone to find individualistic solutions on their own, so this project can achieve this step."

After Zhang Han heard this, he couldn't help but admire the efforts made by Deneke and his gang to combat the sky-high price of drugs.

He asked curiously: "Dr. Denecke, you are a great group of people. I admire your efforts for the open source insulin project very much, but I still don't quite understand why you are looking for me? In other words

By the way, we are far across the ocean, what can I do to help you?"

Denecke's expression suddenly became excited, and every wrinkle stretched out with excitement, like a fungus soaked in hair.
To be continued...