I can extract side effects

The longer he looked under the microscope, the more shocked Williams became.

"My God, this turned out to be a kind of bacteria that can swallow microplastic particles, and it's not just one kind, but several kinds."

"This kind of bacteria must have different decomposing enzymes in the body to completely degrade different plastic particles. You know, there are all kinds of plastic waste in the sewage."

"It's so powerful that it can actually eat plastic. In today's world where plastic pollution is getting worse, the commercial value is simply inestimable."

"Unfortunately, it took a long time. It took almost a week to degrade these microplastics, and it was not very thorough, and some remained."

"If I can bio-engineer it to increase the rate of degrading plastic by hundreds or thousands of times, and shorten the time to less than a day, or even a few hours, it will completely solve the problem of human plastic pollution."

The more Williams thought about it, the more excited he became, and a flush appeared on his face.

"Improvement must be started immediately. First, extract several enzymes that decompose plastics from the bacteria and study them carefully."

"I never thought that the Kunming Sewage Treatment Plant would be a treasure trove of microorganisms. Such a miraculous little cutie can be found."

"Yes, there are many industrial parks in Kunming City, as well as some pharmaceutical and chemical factories. It is not surprising that plastics accumulate in sewage."

"There are more microplastic particles in the sewage, and there are various chemical substances. The bacteria mutate, which leads to the birth of this brand-new bacteria. The ecological evolution of nature is really amazing."

Williams looked at the petri dish with fascinated eyes, as if he saw the rarest treasure in the world.

At this moment, he had already thrown the phage out of the blue.

All eyes are on this bacteria that eats plastic.

After a while, he came back to his senses and looked back reluctantly.

Then he carefully put away all the petri dishes that were randomly placed on the table, and began to gather people and assign experimental tasks.

Plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental crises facing humanity, and it is getting worse.

This is the painful price that human beings have to pay for industrialization.

However, everything has a cause and effect. Humans throw plastic waste into the environment, and the environment repays it with microplastics.

Now, that retribution is in sight.

Microplastics have spread all over the world and are everywhere.

They are far away in the sky, as far as the ice sheet of Antarctica, as deep as the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the earth, and as high as Everest, the top of the world.

As we are approaching, microplastics in the environment have already penetrated into people's food, air and water.

Every year, the world produces a staggering 300 million tons of plastic, but what to do with these stable polymers when they've finished their mission becomes a challenge.

All over the world, billions of tons of plastic waste are buried in landfills, polluting local soil and water sources, and can also appear in human blood, feces and even placenta in the form of microplastics.

Only 10% can be recycled, and the rest will take hundreds of years to decompose, causing immeasurable damage to the environment.

Commonly used plastics can be divided into five types: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). kind.

PET is usually used in mineral water bottles, beverage bottles and various household appliances, PS is widely used in food packaging materials, PE is used in packaging films and plastic bags, PP is widely used in takeaway lunch boxes, and PMMA is mostly used in electronic equipment and lighting equipment Appearance.

Microplastics are not only pervasive throughout the environment, but also in people's bodies.

People who often drink bottled water, eat takeaway food, and work with dust exposure will have increased levels of microplastics in their bodies.

Microplastics smaller than 10 μm can pass through the cell membrane into the circulatory system, reach other tissues, and penetrate various organs in the body.

After microplastics enter the human body, they can cause various inflammations and cell damage, and the damage to the human body will be long-term and lasting.

How to alleviate the increasingly severe plastic crisis has become an extremely urgent challenge.

There are already several kinds of bacteria that can degrade PET in nature, but there are obvious defects. They can only work in a specific pH and temperature range, and the reaction speed is limited, which often takes several weeks. Do preprocessing.

An open question is how to make enzymes that operate efficiently at low temperatures, enabling low-cost, large-scale industrial applications.

As for the other types of plastics, no bacteria capable of devouring them have been found.

That's why Williams was so ecstatic when he discovered a bacterium that can devour a variety of microplastics.

He could see if such bacteria could be grown and break down the plastic into harmless by-products.

It may be the best solution to the world's most pressing environmental crisis.

In the next few days, he took the newly established microbiological laboratory and devoted himself to the work of extracting deplasticase.

Soon, with the collective efforts of Sanqing researchers, three enzymes in the bacteria were quickly found out.

The first enzyme pretreats the microplastic particles so that the chemical bonds between the polymer molecules become loose and fall off more easily.

A second enzyme reacts with water to break down these pretreated plastic polymers into an intermediate, which is then further broken down into smaller monomers by a third enzyme.

These degraded monomers are actually a plastic raw material that can be used to make more plastic.

In this way, discarded plastics can be easily recycled.

The loss can be controlled in a lower range.

Overall, it has a bright future and is extremely commercial.

The three enzymes in the bacteria have all been extracted, but there are still many difficulties waiting for them.

Williams looked at the petri dish, his brow still furrowed.

Surrounded by staff members in white coats, each with dark circles under their eyes, they were looking at him with a hint of excitement in their exhaustion.

Williams pondered for a moment and said: "The efficiency of the three enzymes is still too low, and the decomposition is not complete enough."

"During the degradation of plastics, some of the chemical additives contained in them are released at the same time, causing pollution to the environment."

"The types of plastics that can be degraded are also limited. We have tried some relatively hard plastics, such as HIDPE used to make shampoo bottles or pipes, and the biodegradation effect is not ideal."

"Overall, a lot of work is still needed."

He sighed for a long time, and the fighting spirit in his eyes was extremely strong.

Clap clap!

Williams clapped his hands and said in a deep voice, "Cheer up, the next job will be more difficult."

"The three problems I raised just now need to be solved in order to obtain a stronger enzyme."

"Let's go step by step. First, try to improve these three enzymes to make them more powerful and efficient."

"Secondly, combining these three different enzymes to form a super enzyme further improves the efficiency of engulfing plastic."

"Then, try to improve the degradation process of the super enzyme so that it releases fewer chemical additives and controls its secondary pollution to the environment at a lower level."

"Ultimately, we need to find a way to reduce the cost of the enzyme while mastering the technology for large-scale industrial use of the enzyme."

"As for the limited variety of degradable plastics, this is not a particularly important issue, as long as the common polymers can degrade."

"Okay, I'll assign specific tasks, you guys pay attention..."

After assigning the task, Williams let out a long sigh of relief and went out to go upstairs.

Soon came to the door of the AI ​​pharmaceutical laboratory and knocked on the door gently.

A lazy voice came from inside.

"Come in!"

Pushing the door open, I saw Renlong sitting on a chair with his limbs stretched out, staring at the screen intently, and burst into laughter from time to time.

Wen Renlong turned his head to look at the door. When he saw Williams, the smile on his face disappeared instantly. He sat up straight and asked in a business-like tone.

"It's you, what do you want from me?"

Williams felt the sense of alienation in the other party's mouth, and it seemed that it was not as friendly as others said.

But he came here for something, so he didn't care about it.

"Director Wenren, it's like this. I recently discovered a bacterium that can swallow plastic and extracted three enzymes that can degrade plastic. But I encountered a little problem and need your help." Williams' face piled up Full of smiles and very enthusiastic.

Wen Renlong's eyes lit up immediately, but he wrote lightly, "Oh, bacteria that devour plastics. I've also read papers on this topic. It's really interesting, but if it's just to degrade PET, why do we need three enzymes?"

Williams smiled: "Not only PET, but also plastics like PE, PS, and PP can degrade."

"What?" Wen Renlong lost his composure instantly: "Where did you find such a powerful bacterium?"

"Kuncheng Sewage Treatment Plant. In fact, it was an accident. I originally went for the phage."

"Damn it, you kid is so lucky." Wen Renlong said enviously.

"Where is it, I have always heard that Brother Long has excellent abilities, especially in the field of machine learning models, and no one can match it, so I came here to trouble you."

Williams's attitude was very correct, and Wen Renlong immediately liked him a lot.

Of course, it’s mainly for the sake of the bacteria that devour plastic. This thing sounds very profitable. He is heartbroken for Duan Ailing’s dividends that are about to pass away. before.

"Let's go to your laboratory." Wen Renlong took the lead and walked ahead.

Look at the 3D modeling of three enzymes on AICell, along with detailed data.

Wen Renlong's eyes widened in surprise: "Yes, you did a good job."

He then tapped Williams on the shoulder confidently.

"Don't worry, the next step is up to you, Brother Long."

"I would use their data to build a machine learning (AI) model that could predict which mutations would improve the efficiency of the enzyme, as well as other functions that you want."

"In this way, under the guidance of the model, we can select the most suitable mutation and then modify it in the laboratory."

"In this way, the transformation speed can be greatly accelerated, and it is believed that a new super enzyme that meets the demand can be transformed very quickly."

Williams was overjoyed: "Great, machine learning is indeed my shortcoming, it's all up to you. Brother Long, don't worry, now you are also a member of the super enzyme project team, and if you get results, you will definitely be indispensable. "

*****

at the same time.

Novi, Nobel Committee.

The Peace Prize is different from other awards in that it is awarded by Novi, not Ruidian.

Five experts and scholars were sitting together, all with serious faces.

On the table between them was a computer, and the face of a middle-aged Western man was displayed on the screen.

This man has a hooked nose and a bushy beard. He is Saul, the head of a department in the Eagle Kingdom.

"Dear Mr. Saul, I think you may have made a mistake."

A gray-haired expert said tactfully, "It's already November, and the list of all Nobel Prize winners has been announced last month, and the winners in December will come to the award ceremony."

"So your proposal to add a winner to the Peace Prize may not be accepted."

"You should know that the Nobel Prize is very authoritative, and it is impossible to go back on your word and make such a low-level mistake."

Sol on the screen sneered: "Hehe, come on. If it is other awards, such as physics awards, chemistry awards, and medical awards, I will believe your statement. After all, the scope is too wide, and it is not you who can cover the sky with one hand. of."

"But an award like the Peace Prize, which even everyone hates, are you ashamed to say that you can't change it?"

Having said that, his face darkened, his eyes became sharp, and with his big beard and hooked nose, he looked extraordinarily eerie.

"The last time I ask you, can the peace prize be given to my people?"

"This..." The gray-haired expert sighed helplessly, and closed his mouth wisely.

At this time, another middle-aged lady with a good face and wearing a black and white plaid tweed jacket suddenly spoke.

"May I ask, who is the candidate you are offering? If you don't have enough achievements, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince people."

"Hehe, don't worry, this person's achievements are absolutely convincing, and he may even be the most convincing candidate this year."

Saul sneered and said: "He developed HIV gene medicine, cured AIDS, saved tens of millions of patients from suffering, eliminated the terminal disease that has been fighting against mankind for nearly half a century, and brought peace and health to the whole world , If such a person cannot win the award, it will be a shame for the Peace Prize."

"Ah? Are you talking about Dr. Tang from Sanqing Group? No, absolutely not. The researchers of Sanqing have been blacklisted by us. No matter how high their achievements are, they can't change this decision."

Someone immediately spoke up and expressed strong opposition.

Others joined in.

Sol looked coldly at the group of people on the other side of the network, the contempt in his eyes could not be hidden.

"A group of idiots. Although my candidate is working in Sanqing, he is a native of Eagle Country, Dr. Williams Goodman. After he wins the award, he will return to the motherland and continue his scientific research career."

"If you are from the Eagle Country, it's not impossible." Several experts were relieved and stopped insisting.

The experts sitting around glanced at each other, exchanged glances secretly, and quickly made a decision.

"Then do as you wish."

"Fortunately, we only awarded the Peace Prize to two recipients this year, so there is still one vacant place."

"The Nobel Committee will issue a statement declaring that Dr. Williams Goodman's cure of AIDS has made a tremendous contribution to mankind that cannot be ignored."

"Moreover, we have received nominations from all over the world, all complaining about him and demanding that he be added to the list of winners. Therefore, in order to meet the wishes of the people, we made an exception and awarded the Peace Prize to him."

"In this way, not only will your request be met, but the public will also be convinced."

"Although it may damage the reputation of the committee, the Peace Prize is not so authoritative, and such losses are within the acceptable range."

A wrinkled expert wearing presbyopic glasses spoke slowly.

All the experts at the scene nodded in agreement.

"Very well, I am very satisfied, and I hope the whole world will hear this good news tomorrow."

The corner of Sol's mouth curled up, he waved his hand in a victorious gesture, and quickly disappeared from the screen.