Chapter 119: Research
After measuring Anno's height and recording it, Luo Jin carried Anno downstairs to have breakfast, which Winnie had already prepared.
Lokin placed Anno in her special chair and had Winnie keep her company while she ate breakfast. "Baby, Mommy will get your backpack. We'll go play outside later." He patted her head and went back upstairs.
Back upstairs, Luo Jin took Anuo's backpack and went into the study. Tang Ting was sitting at his desk writing something, with several projected screens in front of him displaying a dazzling array of data.
Although Luo Jin didn't quite understand Tang Ting's job, he knew that the data above was related to Anno.
Seeing her come in, Tang Ting looked up from the data and said, "A Luo, come and take a look."
"What's wrong?"
Luo Jin walked over and watched as Tang Ting opened one of the data pages. "This is the baby's Zerg gene, which has already begun to devour the Northern River gene in her body."
"What does that mean? Does it mean the baby's core is starting to grow?"
Tang Ting shook her head: "There are no signs of growth in the baby's core yet."
Ever since learning Anno's true identity, Tang Ting has been trying to find a way to make her core grow faster.
He tried many energy ores, and even had someone find an ore from the planet Shenqixing that could help the baby stabilize her energy three hundred years ago, but none of them could help her grow a core.
But now, the Zerg genes that were previously covered by the Northern River genes are beginning to slowly devour the Northern River genes in her body.
He searched through all sorts of archives about the Zerg's genes and even asked about some of the characteristics of the Hailier Zerg, and discovered something that greatly worried him.
If the baby fails to develop a core before the North River gene is completely devoured by the Zerg gene, then she will have fully regained her Zerg identity but not her memories. How will she face the difference between herself and the other sparks?
"Will the baby's Zerg genes completely devour the Northern River genes?" Logan asked.
Looking at the data in front of him, Tang Ting said, "I can't be 100% sure. The Zerg genes are still being devoured, but it's still quite slow. During this process, the genes may also undergo some mutations."
For life forms in the universe today, genetic mutations are happening all the time. Some are the result of slow evolution over time, while others are sudden mutations that create new species.
He examined the gene sequence of the Fire Seed and retrieved the Fire Seed gene data archives that his mentor had previously forbidden him to study from the database. He discovered that whenever the Fire Seed's energy waned, a certain gene in their bodies would suddenly increase.
This gene is very likely the Zerg gene hidden in the Spark gene.
The history of the fire can be traced back tens of thousands of years, and their genes have remained unchanged all these years.
The Fireseed gene originated from the genetic fusion and mutation of the Zerg. Strictly speaking, it is not a species at all with the Northern River People. The Fireseed can not only stabilize the restless spirit of the Northern River People, but also enhance their genes.
Their energy is applicable to most species in the universe, a conclusion Tang Ting reached after a month of research in the lab.
He has now extracted this conclusion separately and stored it on an offline data disk.
He thought that if he could study this data and draw this conclusion through experiments within a month, then others could too.
In other words, some people already knew about it, but they just didn't release the data.
The more he studied it, the more he felt something was wrong. So he became more cautious and revised and cleaned up the data, including the process and materials for studying the spark gene. He changed the personal research in the laboratory into a team project.
During the day, he led his team in carrying out this project, and at night he would conduct individual research on the spark gene.
Just after he cleaned up the data from his research on the Fire Seed gene, the inspection department came knocking, confirming his suspicions that someone had already discovered the problem with the Fire Seed gene.
The audit department claimed it was just a routine inspection, but they took the largest offline data disk in their research institute for inspection, and then searched all the personal data accounts in their institute, which infuriated the institute director.
Their research institute is the largest research base in the entire Beihe River region. Everyone who can get into the institute is a prodigy. It has talents in various medical and biological fields. In addition to public research projects, they also have some personal research projects, all of which are approved in advance. They even check their private accounts. No wonder they are angry.
Seeing the commotion made by the inspection department, Tang Ting thought that it was definitely not just the people in the inspection department who knew the inside story; there must be other high-ranking people who knew as well.
He and several other people in the research institute who also had children at home were specially invited to the inspection department for tea, where they were asked about their research topics and the current health status of their children.
The investigation department has already gone this far, and Tang Ting feels there must be something fishy going on.
The research institute could no longer access the data, but fortunately, he had previously studied the Fire Seed Gene and had backed up the data. Now, he continues to study and record the data at home using an outdated instrument, and then stores it offline to compare with the baby's genetic changes.
Luo Jin also knew about the investigation of the research institute. Later, when he saw that Tang Ting had brought back so many old instruments, he asked him and found out that he used them to continue his research on the Fire Seed gene.
It seems that the research institute was investigated because Tang Ting studied the spark gene.
Since the research institute was investigated two months ago, the number of visits from the investigation department and the Spark Association has increased.
When Eve lived with them in the past, the Fire Seed Association would visit them at most once every two months to check on the Fire Seed's living conditions in the family.
Now they come every ten days or so.
She asked Evena, who also found it strange. She said it was an order from above, and she was afraid of disturbing the baby's life. Every time the inspection department came, Evena would accompany them.
The questioning was the same as before, asking about daily life and physical health, but Lockin noticed that the inspectors were carrying some kind of testing equipment.
They are still investigating who is researching the Fireseed gene. Tang Ting used some kind of signal isolator to cover all the research instruments he had at home. Fortunately, these research instruments were old instruments that had been phased out of the market and had their own systems, so they could not be detected by existing detection methods.
"Tang Ting, according to your calculated data and time, how long will it take for the Zerg genes in the baby's body to completely devour the Beihe genes?"
Tang Ting tapped his fingers on the table a few times to retrieve the comparison data.
"Barring any major unforeseen circumstances, it may take less than a year."
"So do you think her core will be able to grow within this year?"
Tang Ting was silent for a long time. "I'm afraid that won't work. We need to find a way to contact the Zerg."
After listening to what Tang Ting said, Locke placed his hand on Tang Ting's shoulder. They both felt as if they were now shrouded in a huge net, a net filled with lies, deception, and enormous secrets.
"Tang Ting, we must let the baby know the truth, the core issue..."
The couple looked at each other, both understanding what the other was thinking.
They want to find the baby's very first core.
After Tang Ting studied the Fire Seed gene, the performance of the Inspection Department made him distrust everyone above him. Now that he knows that the Fire Seed's energy is applicable not only to the Northern River Star people but also to other races, he is even less likely to trust them. Therefore, he did not report the data on the changes in Anno's genes.
Evena had previously revealed to them that the Grand Administrator Aled had direct contact with the Zerg, so Aled would send people to check on Baby's situation from time to time.
Tang Ting was still wondering why the Zerg didn't contact them directly.
Now that he has this research data, he guesses that the Zerg may also know some reasons why they are afraid that if they contact them directly, their superiors might keep a close eye on their family.
This makes the baby feel even more restricted.
Perhaps, their constraints are greater.
The Zerg didn't want their family to be tied down; they definitely wanted them to discover something. Now Tang Ting understood: the truth about the fire seed, and the core belonging to the baby.
Long ago, his mentor told him something: What God gives them, He will take back one day.
He didn't understand what it meant before, but now he's gradually starting to understand.
The collective decline of the spark's energy seems more like a signal to the Northern River system; perhaps they have misunderstood.
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