Chapter 2299 - 1483: Unforeseeable Out of Control (2)

Chapter 2299: Chapter 1483: Unforeseeable Out of Control (2)

The worry is not about their failure, the worry is about their success. My team has published so many papers on this topic, many scholars can replicate the work.

If they indeed observe life extension in an animal model, even if it’s just by a fraction of a percent, even with unknown side effects, they will immediately claim it as a "proof of concept." The media will cheer, investors will pour in further funding, and the public will demand accelerated clinical trials. Regulatory bodies will face immense political pressure, pushed to approve "pilot human trials" before complete safety data is available. Then one day, a volunteer will suddenly collapse. By that time, the entire field will be dragged into an abyss.

The scenario unfolds frame by frame in his mind, as clear as if it has already happened. He finds himself standing at the window, hands on the windowsill, knuckles white from exertion. He takes a deep breath and slowly exhales. He tells himself this is not a science fiction movie. He has the power to stop this script from becoming reality. But he needs to figure out how to stop it.

The issue is, "how to stop it" only has two options. The first option is to continue advancing his experiments and as soon as possible produce a complete safety boundary map, drawing a clear red line with data. The second option is to stop the experiments, publicly issue a statement, and call for a global halt on all receptor X research until the international scientific community develops unified safety standards.

Technically, he believes that if he stops his laboratory, it will be extremely difficult for others to achieve a breakthrough; even if they do, it will be postponed for a very long time.

The problem with the first option is time. His experiment needs almost three more months to complete all data collection, while the company outside is entering animal models next week. A three-month time gap is enough for everything to spiral out of control. The problem with the second option is that calling for a halt to research means transforming himself from an "explorer" into a "gatekeeper," and being a gatekeeper is exceptionally dangerous in the current public sentiment. If he calls for a halt, the already fervent groups—the Longevity Freedom Movement, the Infinite Life Foundation, the "Unleashing Seal" community... will redefine him from a "hesitant scientist" into the "face of the enemy." They will say Yang Ping is hindering human progress, keeping a secret of life extension for all of humanity. He may be isolated, attacked, and even stigmatized. But he can accept these. What he can’t accept is remaining silent at this critical moment, while others outside cause great harm, leaving him to question himself for the rest of his life: Why didn’t you stand up sooner?

He stood there, thinking for a long time.

At eleven in the morning, someone knocked on his office door. It was Weber. He pushed the door open, holding a tablet in his hand, with a look on his face that was somewhere between exhaustion and a kind of suppressed excitement. "The metabolomic data for the 12.5% group is out."

Yang Ping turned around. "What are the results?"

"I compared 320 metabolites between the experimental group and the control group. Seventeen showed significant differences." Weber placed the tablet on Yang Ping’s desk, pulling up a bar chart, "Look at these: Glutamine consumption rate increased by 35%, serine synthesis decreased by 22%, and lactate secretion increased by 19%."

Yang Ping looked down at those bar charts. His mind raced through what the combined changes in these three metabolic indicators meant. Increased glutamine consumption indicated cells were accelerating uptake of a key nitrogen source, decreased serine synthesis suggested an important amino acid metabolism pathway was inhibited, and increased lactate secretion signified an upregulated glycolysis pathway. Together, they pointed in the same direction.

"Warburg effect," Yang Ping said.

"Right!" Weber’s voice was calm, "Cells are shifting towards aerobic glycolysis. Even in oxygen-rich conditions, they’re starting to rely on glycolysis instead of oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. This is a typical feature of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. The cells in the experimental group are shifting towards a more ’greedy’ metabolic state."

Yang Ping’s gaze moved back and forth between those seventeen significantly altered metabolites, as if piecing together an incomplete puzzle. Increased glutamine consumption, decreased serine synthesis, increased lactate secretion—these changes on their own appeared minor, but collectively they formed a clear picture: cells are deviating from normal energy metabolism pathways.

"What about the intermediates of the TCA cycle?" he asked.

"No significant changes. This means the mitochondria themselves are still functioning, but the cells’ dependence on them is decreasing. They’re remodeling themselves into a more ’flexible’ system, capable of deriving energy from more sources, with less reliance on oxygen. In other words, they’re becoming harder to kill."

Yang Ping was silent for a moment, then he looked up and at Weber.

"When we did the 5% and 10%, there were no metabolic changes. At 12.5%, they began. Morphological changes appeared at 12.5%, and epigenetic changes at 15%. This indicates the critical point lies between 10% and 12.5%. Furthermore, different systems—metabolic, epigenetic, morphological—respond to this critical point in layers. Metabolic comes first, morphological second, epigenetic last but with the greatest magnitude."

"After gradient encryption, we need to further subdivide the interval between 10% and 12.5%," Weber said, "Maybe 11%, 11.5%, 12%. Pinpoint the critical point to one decimal place."

"Do it!" Yang Ping said, "But I’m thinking about another question now."

Weber asked, "If we find that precise critical point, like 11.7%, and then we publish the entire map. What do you think those outside will do with this data?"

Yang Ping didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Weber’s face, as if reading a concern that surpassed the technical boundary from that question. "They will use 11.7% as an operational guide. They will say ’as long as it doesn’t exceed 11.7% it is safe,’ then everyone will try to reach that number. Then someone will wonder ’would a little more than 11.7% yield a better effect,’ and they will tentatively increase it to 11.8%, 11.9%, 12%, and they will repeat everything we are witnessing today, only with the starting point set higher next time."

"The boundary we find today may eventually just become tomorrow’s starting point for others to take risks," Weber said.

Yang Ping nodded.

"That’s assuming they manage a breakthrough, but it’s not that easy for them to achieve it, so we must keep the data absolutely confidential now, prevent any leaks, and cease further experiments. We can explore boundaries, but must cease and seal up the most critical experiments on how to unlock."

Weber put away the tablet and stood up straight. "I understand. I didn’t quite understand you before, but after these recent events, I, like you, am filled with worry."

When the door closed, it made a soft click.

Yang Ping stood alone in the office, the window in front of him. He recalled when he wrote that commentary, thinking he was making an "invitation," inviting the public to engage in a serious ethical discussion. He thought the discussion would be slow, cautious, and reasoned. But now he understood that public discourse is never slow—it erupts, it burns, and within a week, it pushes everything to an unpredictable position. That commentary has become a stone thrown into a pond, with ripples spreading at an uncontrollable speed, affecting shores he never imagined reaching.

He stood for a long time, long enough for the light outside to begin shifting westward.