"Nicolas Flamel is an alchemist, and your research topic shouldn't involve alchemy," Murphy said.
As he spoke, Murphy glanced at Ron, thinking, you've collected so many Dumbledore's wizard cards, haven't you ever noticed Nicolas Flamel's name on any of them? Harry noticed it after just one glance, but you only focused on the Chocolate Frogs, right? Well, it's not surprising that nobody pays attention to the text on those cards.
After sending the young wizards away, Murphy was about to grab a quick dinner when suddenly his vision blurred, followed by a wave of nausea.
He clutched his chest, stunned and confused for a few seconds, until several deep breaths helped his vision return to normal.
"What's going on? The last check-up showed no problems with my stomach or nervous system..."
Losing his appetite, Murphy decided to head back to his room to conduct some checks on himself.
He had a magically extended trunk, inside which he had built a few medical laboratories to the specifications of the magical research institute. Although high-end equipment couldn't be used due to Hogwarts' magical interference, basic diagnostics were still possible.
The walk from the classroom to his office took just a few minutes. At first, the discomfort seemed to have passed, and he almost reached his office without incident. But as he ascended to the fifth floor, another wave of pain surged, nearly toppling him.
Upon entering, he leaned weakly against the door, a tearing pain rising from his chest and abdomen, dragging him down with familiar fatigue, making it nearly impossible to stand.
He remembered this feeling all too well, almost identical to what he experienced six months ago! Trembling, he took a syringe from his space ring and injected it into his neck.
After a while, the dreadful weakness gradually subsided, and Murphy let out a breath of relief, sitting down and wiping his forehead.
In just a moment, he had broken out in a cold sweat.
"Why so soon..."
He had thought the recurrence of symptoms would take a few more months, but now it seemed the situation was more urgent than he had anticipated.
The transformation and extreme magical resonance during the battle with the shamans had overtaxed his already precarious body, which was possibly nearing collapse.
No, something had to be done.
He needed to stabilize his condition first.
At least, until he found a real solution.
After resting for a while, Murphy took out his extended trunk, but after opening it, he changed his mind.
It was useless to treat the symptoms without addressing the fundamental issues of aging and genetic disorder. He needed a more definitive solution.
With this thought, Murphy contacted Andrew Tuck from the Transformation Pathway group at the magical research institute.
The Philosopher's Stone was still missing too many pieces, and now he could only rely on science.
"Andrew, how's the research on vampire true blood going? Is it possible to apply their cellular repair capabilities to ordinary humans?"
Previously, the transformation research group discovered that vampire cells had a much higher repair capability than normal human cells, with a maximum division rate over ten times higher.
This ability could significantly alleviate Murphy's current symptoms. So, in September, he had dedicated substantial resources to this direction.
Now, with his condition worsening, he urgently needed results.
"Director," Andrew spoke to a raven, unable to see Murphy, with an odd expression. "We've identified several genes possibly related to the vampire's superior DNA repair abilities. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique you provided, we incorporated them into mouse cells and observed a lifespan increase of about 30%, with cell division rising from an average of around 12 times to about 15-16 times."
"However, due to the large gap with vampire abilities, we suspect we haven't found the most crucial gene."
An increase in cell division by about 30%? This result was already better than Murphy expected. "Is it possible to apply this to humans?"
"Directly inserting foreign genes into human cells is too risky," Andrew explained. "So we're planning to use a harmless virus for infection to achieve the therapeutic effect."
Murphy nodded slightly. His condition couldn't endure much experimentation, and the more invasive the method, the more unpredictable the consequences – one of the reasons he preferred the Elixir of Life.
"What about the molecular biological mechanisms of anti-aging?" Murphy asked.
Genetic-level anti-aging was difficult to manipulate, but understanding which molecules were used and through which channels might allow treatment through less invasive pharmacological methods.
Andrew shook his head, "Sorry, Director, we haven't made much headway in that area."
This was expected. Humanity's pursuit of immortality wasn't a recent endeavor. Research on the internal mechanisms of aging had never stopped, but until Murphy's rebirth, Muggle science hadn't made any significant breakthroughs.
Biological "immortals" like jellyfish, bacteria, naked mole rats, and others had been studied by Muggle scientists, but few mechanisms applicable to humans were found.
Vampires, as research subjects, were superior because they transformed from humans, retaining most of their genetic information and cellular mechanisms.
Even so, finding a perfect anti-aging path in a short time was unrealistic.
"Let's proceed with your suggested method then. Do you have any specific plans?"
"Adenovirus as a gene transfer vector has precedents and seems ideal," Andrew said. "Adenoviruses have a good capacity for carrying external genes and elicit a mild immune response. We're currently modifying adenoviruses and expect to start animal experiments within this month."
"Also, Director, Furness Bachman and Omid Abbott want to talk to you," Andrew added, as if remembering something.
Those two mad scientists?
Murphy agreed, and soon the two scientists appeared in front of the raven. "Director, we've heard about Andrew's transgenic experiment. We have an idea."
"Let's hear it," Murphy said through the goblin coin.
"Do you remember us mentioning using the Seed of Mind to control the behavior of viruses and bacteria?"
Murphy frowned, "I remember."
"Using viruses as gene therapy vectors is spontaneous and uncontrollable," Furness said.
"For your treatment, using non-replicating viral vectors makes it hard to treat the entire body, while replicating viral vectors can have unpredictable side effects."
"So, we thought, maybe we can use the Seed of Mind to screen and control viruses. After converting the virus into a cellular repair vehicle through transgenic technology, we can then use the Seed of Mind to target or dictate their behavior, making them work entirely according to our will."
Murphy pondered for a while.
Using the Seed of Mind to control viruses?
When they first started researching the Seed of Mind, these two had suggested a similar idea, now repurposed to cell repair.
In fact, Murphy had already combined the Seed of Mind with viruses. The transformation mechanism of the werewolf mercenaries was constructed with the werewolf virus and the Seed of Mind. Murphy could control the werewolves' transformation through the Seed of Mind.
The only difference was that the Seed of Mind was implanted in each werewolf, not in the virus.
He had always been wary of using the Seed of Mind on microorganisms like viruses and bacteria, but now he was somewhat swayed.
What if it really needed to save a life?
Even if it turned into a T-virus, he'd
have to use it if forced.
"Once the viral vector is ready, I'll come back," Murphy said.
Only he knew how to use the Seed of Mind, so he had to conduct this experiment himself.
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