Chapter 840 Returning to the Country
Regarding the origin of mitochondria, Bifang knows a very interesting hypothesis.
Mitochondria are eukaryotic organelles that were once bacteria and are endosymbiotic with humans.
Simply put, mitochondria were independent organisms a long, long time ago. By chance, they combined with humans and eventually became a part of the human body.
To this day, it still has a certain "independence".
The evidence is that mitochondria and the human genome are completely different things.
The mitochondrial genome is 16569 in length and encodes 37 genes, mainly related to the respiratory chain.
The human nuclear genome is 3 billion in length, encoding 20,000 to 30,000 genes, including all content.
There is no sequence homology between the two.
The genomes of other tissues in the human body are all human nuclear genomes.
The gold standard for modern biological classification is based on the genome rather than appearance characteristics, because many classification methods in the past were prone to errors.
Some of them look different but are actually in the same genus, while some look very similar but are actually classified very far apart.
For example, tree shrews that look like mice are actually close relatives of humans, while Tibetan mastiffs and teacup dogs look like two completely different species. The latter's breeding organs are not even as big as the former's, but they don't even have reproductive isolation.
However, endosymbiosis is not parasitism, these are two different things.
In order to survive, single-celled organisms need to consume matter and energy.
Just as “big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimps”, large cells also swallow small cells.
This process is called "endocytosis".
The endocytosis process is closely related to the fluidity of the cell membrane. The swallowed object will be wrapped in a layer of cell membrane and enter the interior of the cell. The cell will perform a series of operations to decompose and utilize it, and then spit it out of the cell. The process of spitting it out is called exocytosis.
What if it is a small cell that is swallowed?
This small cell was swallowed but not digested. Instead, it coexisted in the large cell. This is endosymbiosis.
Some genes can be absorbed and integrated by the human body, but once integrated, a new system is formed that is no longer separate from each other and is subject to the expression regulation of the entire system.
If we now separate the mitochondria alone, they cannot be restored to the original bacteria and the original life.
This situation is actually very common, and there are many such marks in the human genome.
It's like a virus that invaded the human genome millions of years ago changed the pattern of genes being turned on and off in human embryonic stem cells.
About a billion years ago, a large, phagocytic ancient organism swallowed up a smaller, aerobic, ancestral prokaryote.
Swallowing is a problem, but you must be careful, as it would be bad if the swallowed creature killed you.
The archaeons may have had a series of stress-responsive changes to protect themselves.
For example, the cell membrane is massively invaginated to form a primitive endoplasmic reticulum membrane system, thereby restricting the activity of engulfed bacteria.
The primitive endoplasmic reticulum membrane system was further specialized to encapsulate the cell's genetic material to form the cell nucleus.
The ancestral archaea became the ancestral eukaryotes.
Some of the swallowed aerobic bacteria not only remained undigested, but also gradually survived inside the large, ancestral archaeon cells.
It may be that the aerobic bacteria feel that it is good to have a home, so they stay in the ancestral cells and refuse to leave.
Working on biology is quite simple. Just do whatever is comfortable for you. Why bother?
The progenitor cells can also accept it. It is equivalent to raising a pet. Although food and shelter are required, they can obtain the energy and products of glycolysis from aerobic bacteria, which is not a loss.
Thus, the two organisms formed a mutually dependent symbiosis, which was beneficial to both.
In this way, in the long process of evolution, the swallowed organisms transitioned from parasitism to symbiosis, and eventually formed mitochondria.
The evidence supporting the above theory is mainly due to the comparison between mitochondria and true bacteria, which revealed that they are similar in many ways.
Similar in size.
Proliferate by binary fission.
Have similar covalent, closed, circular DNA.
The ribosomes are similar in size and structure and have the same sedimentation coefficient.
Protein synthesis can be inhibited by antibiotics.
In addition, the endosymbiotic theory can also explain why mitochondria have a double membrane, but it may be different from what most people think. The double membrane may come from bacteria.
However, this is only the most common and recognized academic hypothesis, not an ironclad case.
Bifang threw away his complicated thoughts.
There is no point in thinking too much, you will still have to use it in the end anyway.
Using the enhancement coupon, the same process as before appeared in my mind. Compared with the muscle control enhancement, this time the enhancement seemed to be more subtle and silent.
Instead of feeling hot, I felt like I had entered a cool autumn.
After everything was over, Bifang had a lot of extra information in his mind, and he suddenly realized the direct effect of this coupon.
Improve and optimize the energy supply efficiency of mitochondria, and further improve efficiency when the body is in a crisis state.
Simply put, it's an explosion.
Similar to when a crisis occurs, adrenaline will be secreted in large quantities, enhancing a person's strength, speed, and reaction. The mitochondria also have the same effect at this time.
It's like a double shot of adrenaline, which can burst out with greater strength and energy.
As to whether it has the additional effect of prolonging life, it is unknown.
Bifang itself tends to exist, after all, the system's enhancement has always been powerful.
"call."
Bifang took a long breath and felt unprecedented comfort. At the same time, his eyelids became heavy and he felt a little drowsy.
The sun had not yet set, but Bifang still chose to go to bed.
In the evening, a staff member called Bifang outside the tent to go for dinner.
Bifang opened his eyes in a daze. His sleep was interrupted and he was still very sleepy, but his rumbling stomach also protested.
After a brief struggle, Bifang chose to refuse, saying that he still needed to rest.
If I agree, I can't just come back to sleep after eating. The professors will definitely invite Bifang to have a chat, and I won't be able to go back for an hour or so.
Bifang has experienced this many times and has deep feelings about it.
Bi Fang didn't get up until noon the next day.
I woke up feeling refreshed and just in time for lunch after washing up. There is no happier moment than this.
After feeding Alpha some grass, Bifang set off for the cafeteria.
In the large white tent, simple square dining tables were neatly arranged. People arrived one after another, ordered their meals from several large stainless steel pots, and then chose seats to sit down.
Bifang ordered a double portion for himself and chose to sit at a corner. Although it was not enough for him to eat, one plate could not hold more food.
There is no need to bother others to wash more dishes. It is free anyway, so you can come more often.
"How was your rest, Mr. Bifang?"
As soon as Bifang sat down, Waziri, who was also sitting diagonally opposite him with a plate in hand, scooped hummus with a spoon and greeted him.
Waziri did have the idea of treating Bifang well yesterday, but the other party did not come.
But even though he didn't come, no one thought that Bifang was out of touch with the times. After walking in the vast desert for more than two months, anyone would want to have a good sleep after finally finishing.
It would be stupid to drag the other person out for a social event. Moreover, it is more understandable when I heard that the other person had drifted on the sea for more than a month before crossing the Sahara .
"Very good. This is the most comfortable sleep I've had in the past three months." Bifang gave a thumbs up and at the same time picked up a baby pigeon and chewed it raw with the skin, meat and bones, making his mouth water.
After being hungry for 24 hours, having such a big meal is so satisfying, just like swallowing a big glass of ice water when you are extremely thirsty in the hot summer, or like drinking a sip of steaming mutton soup in the cold winter.
Egypt is a typical Arab country that believes in Islam, so pork and related foods are almost impossible to find. They also do not eat any animal offal or uncooked food, so foods like sashimi have no market in Egypt.
Alcoholics will also have a hard time in Egypt because local drinks do not contain alcohol and Egyptians are also prohibited from drinking.
Although there are many taboos, it cannot affect the Egyptians' love for food at all.
The local taste is heavy, and chili, curry, pepper, etc. are used in most dishes. Egyptians like rich, caramelized and soft food.
In this way, the taste is more to Bifang's liking.
Plus the food here is quite rich.
For a group of scholars and government workers, the food here cannot be bad, with all kinds of meat available.
Seeing Bifang swallowing with big gulps, Waziri's smile widened.
Almost everyone has a side that likes to recommend things they like to others. When they receive praise, they will feel a sense of identity.
At this moment, Waziri felt a slight joy in his heart.
"Roasted pigeon is a must-eat delicacy for the groom when we get married. We stuff rice and broad beans into the stomach of the pigeon. The roasted pigeon meat is tender, juicy and fragrant."
"Another version is a stew made with pigeon, onions, tomatoes and rice in a clay pot."
Bifang gave a thumbs up, swallowed a piece of pigeon wing with bones, and praised: "I will definitely try it when I have time."
"Our kebabs are also good and very popular. We use the best lamb and season it with a mixture of salt, pepper, olive oil, etc., then cut it into small pieces and thread it on an iron skewer. The grilled kebabs are golden, fragrant, and very juicy. You can also dip them in the sauce when eating."
Waziri went aside and came back with a plate of kebabs.
Bifang had not seen this thing over there before, and thought it was a special treat given to him by the other party.
Regarding such formalistic things, Bifang just wants to say.
Give me more!
Bifang picked it up and started to eat it without hesitation. The mutton was chopped and seasoned with spices, then skewered and grilled. The roasted meat was fragrant and made people's appetites whet.
After eating, you can also drink a bowl of Molokia.
A green thick soup made with mallow. The mallow leaves are crushed and boiled with lamb, chicken, or rabbit, butter, green onions and other foods. The cooked mallow soup is a bit sticky, but tastes delicious. Garlic can be used to enhance the flavor when , and it is very refreshing when eaten with grilled skewers.
Then, Bifang ate all the skewers for multiple people under Waziri's astonished gaze and burped in a slightly indecent manner.
"I've heard that Egypt is the land of spices. It really lives up to its reputation!"
"I saw many different kinds of spices along the way, but unfortunately there were not enough of them to collect them."
“That’s a shame.”
Waziri was not without regrets.
The Sahara is not completely deserted, although most farmers and city dwellers in the world consider it to be an empty place, difficult to cultivate, unsuitable for living, and of little use to humans today.
But this land is not without value to mankind.
Over thousands of years, something extremely valuable has emerged from this dry land: spices.
Spices have many uses. They can be eaten, smelled, and pickled into mummies.
Just like cinnamon and star anise, they can not only be used in cooking, but also can be used to make sachets.
When it comes to the history of using incense, when the Egyptian pharaohs began to play with spices, European nobles were still picking fruits.
After observing Egyptian murals, you will find that the daily life of the pharaohs was probably like this: holding a spice jar today, two tomorrow, and showing off to someone who doesn't have one the day after tomorrow, and they were simply having fun.
Chemical ecologists believe that high temperatures and dry climates are more beneficial than harmful to the evolution of aromatic plants containing benzene ring compounds.
The aroma emitted by the leaves of many aromatic plants may help them resist heat, drought, and damage from herbivores.
This fragrant, highly volatile, fleeting chemical is found in greater concentrations in plants from dry climates than in plants elsewhere.
Coupled with the Egyptians' body odor problem, this desert has become, through artificial cultivation, the most suitable place for growing the world's most powerful aromatic plants.
So along the way, Bifang collected a lot of spice seeds, but unfortunately there were too many varieties and too few quantities, so he was reluctant to use them for cooking.
Now I am finally satisfied.
After the meal, Waziri and Bifang talked about their travel experiences, expressed their intention for the follow-up excavation of the ancient tomb, and then left. Before leaving, he once again invited Bifang to attend today's campfire dinner.
Bifang originally planned to refuse, but when he heard Waziri say that there would be a roasted whole lamb in the evening, he could not refuse the invitation and could only agree reluctantly.
The next day, Bifang, feeling satisfied, chose to leave on a truck carrying fresh water.
As for Alpha, it was shipped by another truck.
Before leaving, Bifang presented Waziri with a flint dagger he had made himself as a gift as a token of gratitude for his hospitality over the past two days.
Finally, after two days of fun in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, Bifang bought a plane ticket and returned to China. However, Alpha would take another day to arrive because it was a special consignment.
As soon as he opened the door, Bifang heard the clattering sound of claws hitting the floor.
Then several big furry dogs rushed down the stairs like a white torrent and ran towards Bifang.
Obviously, after not seeing them for three months, even though there was an auntie coming to feed them every day, Fugui and Wangcai had not forgotten their old master.
Then Bifang felt himself trapped in a sea of spears, almost unable to breathe, and there were slippery tongues everywhere.
With six directions of attack, even a wilderness master like Bifang had difficulty breaking free for a moment, and it was several minutes before he felt the dogs’ enthusiasm wane a little.
"That's about it." Bifang reached out and pinched Goudan's mouth. "Tomorrow I'll take you to the club to have some fun and meet some new friends."
Alpha is too big and it is inconvenient to keep it at home.
Therefore, Bifang plans to place it in the club. After all, the distance is not far and he can visit it often. I think it also prefers a more open environment.
