Chapter 13: Pros and Cons
Chapter 13: Pros and Cons
“It really has both advantages and disadvantages.”
Qin Yu sat facing the Senior Leader across a table.
When asked this question by the Senior Leader, Qin Yu didn’t hesitate much, giving a straightforward answer.
The birth of Compound 2611 and the impact it could create had objectively, and in fact, already gone beyond the scope of a single technological achievement itself.
It was destined to have a profound and immense impact on human society, from top to bottom, shaking its very foundations.
Social structures, forms, and systems people had long taken for granted might no longer be suitable in the future society, which had now become an unknown.
Many uncertainties about the future had increased.
In truth, the birth of Compound 2611 placed Human Civilization once more before a crossroads in history.
The direction humanity chose might determine the shared fate of Human Civilization for a very long time to come.
It was precisely because the stakes were so high that this Senior Leader was here now.
To those with foresight,
after the initial shock of Compound 2611’s birth subsided,
they would quickly realize that the emergence of Compound 2611 was actually something with unpredictable pros and cons.
For an individual, for a single, specific person,
the birth of Compound 2611, or rather, its potential to extend life, was obviously a good thing.
Because an instinct carved into the genes of life itself determined that “ensuring one’s existence lasts as long as possible” was the top priority, the primary driving force, for the vast majority.
But zooming the perspective out to a group, an entire nation, or the whole human species,
it might no longer be an entirely positive thing.
“On the positive side, first, it fulfills the most fundamental, most primal desire for ‘long life’ held by most people.”
“Secondly, it increases humanity’s overall racial potential, to a certain extent.”
Qin Yu also took a moment to explain this point.
“As modern science and technology advance, research delves deeper into various fields. Within a single field, the volume of known knowledge is constantly growing.”
“You must be aware that ever since we entered the modern era, the closer we get to the present, the fewer ‘all-round scholars’ we see in scientific fields. I believe the geniuses of our time are no less intelligent than the brilliant masters from various domains like physics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology in the past.”
“The only reason for this phenomenon is that the amount of knowledge already discovered has become vast. Modern researchers face the challenge of mastering this existing knowledge first before exploring new frontiers, which takes a very long time. Their entire learning and research careers are often insufficient to master knowledge spanning multiple fields.”
“This is the objective reason why research fields are constantly being subdivided. However, even with high levels of collaboration between researchers from various specialties, it still can’t function as seamlessly as a single, broad expert.”
“And this problem will inevitably become worse the more we advance. It will reach a point where our technological progress gets completely stalled by our biological lifespan limit.”
“That is, even the most gifted scholars and researchers will find it impossible to grasp the existing knowledge and reach the current boundary of understanding within their lifetimes. Consequently, breaking new ground in science and technology becomes impossible.”
“The birth of Compound 2611 objectively allows that critical moment to be postponed, bought us some more time.”
Hearing Qin Yu’s explanation, the Senior Leader didn’t offer his opinion immediately. He just nodded, remaining attentive.
“Thirdly, it enhances our capacity for long-term planning on a larger scale. A person who can only live for a hundred years has no way of considering what the world will be like in the hundred and first year.”
“A person who lives only several decades also struggles to create a plan that spans over a century. While one might make efforts now for life decades later, striving for a world centuries hence presents an almost impossible challenge.”
“Yet sometimes, certain crucial plans and endeavors truly require perseverance across such vast timescales. For these kinds of challenges, the arrival of Compound 2611 is beneficial.”
The Senior Leader nodded again.
He waited for Qin Yu to finish this point before asking further,
“And the negative aspects?”
“Social ethics will face challenges. The existing societal mechanisms may no longer fit and will likely require significant time for adaptation and adjustment.”
“For instance,” Qin Yu paused slightly, “I doubt we can feasibly afford paying retirement pensions from age sixty all the way to one hundred and eighty.”
Qin Yu made a joke that didn’t quite bring a smile.
“A substantial increase in the average lifespan will inevitably cause social stratification to become much more rigid. For longer periods, a large portion of societal resources will likely gather even more significantly in the hands of a minority.”
“The vitality of society will diminish; in the short term, developmental potential will weaken.”
“Think of society like a body: if existing cells persist for much longer, new cells will correspondingly take longer to be generated. With new societal blood emerging much later, the pace of societal change will naturally slow down.”
“It’s akin to viruses: those with shorter generational cycles naturally mutate faster in the same amount of time.”
“The ultimate drawback might be…”
“Equality in the face of death is humanity’s most fundamental equality. The birth of Compound 2611 and subsequent Life Extension Technologies could challenge this.”
“When confronting death, people might no longer be equal.”
Even though the extension of human lifespan was something Qin Yu personally needed,
he didn’t overlook the potential drawbacks its widespread adoption could bring.
Frankly, Qin Yu was acutely aware,
that even if he, as the ‘father of human life extension technology’, stood up publicly urging everyone not to use Compound 2611 to prolong their lives,
it was doubtful many would listen. It wouldn’t stop the technology from being used on a massive scale.
Most of what Qin Yu said was framed from the macro perspective of the entire Human Civilization.
After all, for an individual, the pros and cons of Compound 2611 were almost a foregone conclusion; there wasn’t much ambiguity.
Listening to Qin Yu, the Senior Leader fell silent again for a while, then let out a long sigh.
“Dr. Qin Yu. I’d like to seek your opinion once more.”
“Do you believe Compound 2611 should be made available and put to use?”
“Regarding that question,” Qin Yu replied quickly after barely a pause, “I don’t think my opinion holds particular significance.”
“From the moment Compound 2611 was born, I believe that Compound 2611, or rather, Life Extension Technology, would inevitably be used sooner or later.”
“Even if we chose now not to produce Compound 2611, sealing away all its synthetic methods and research data…”
“I am certain that someone, somewhere, would spare no expense, driven by desperation, to forcibly drag Compound 2611 back from obscurity.”
“Furthermore, even if every scrap of data concerning Compound 2611 vanished completely, as long people knew such a thing had been created… I believe it would be reborn.”
“However, under such circumstances, its eventual use would likely lead to even more severe inequality faced with death.”
Qin Yu could see the Senior Leader, despite his outward composure,
bore a certain weight of decision under this enormous historical responsibility.
After hearing Qin Yu’s words, the Senior Leader pondered again, a prolonged silence preceding his slow nod. Finally, he rose from his chair.
“Dr. Qin Yu, you are correct. Sometimes, facing the inexorable wheel of history, we simply have no choice. We can only cling to the hope that the future it rolls over might align, as closely as possible, with the one we envision.”
The Senior Leader extended his hand towards Qin Yu.
Qin Yu reciprocated, their hands clasping.
“Dr. Qin Yu, in the coming period, whatever resources, support, personnel, materials, or anything else you require – we will exert every effort to coordinate and make them available.”
“Our sole hope is that under your guidance, we can synthesize sufficient Compound 2611 for the entire population of the Huaxia Nation as quickly as possible, in the shortest possible time.”
The Senior Leader stated this with firm resolve, his grip on Qin Yu’s hand unwavering as he made the commitment.
Qin Yu nodded, expressing no objection.
Although it was termed as under his guidance, when it came down to the specific details of mass production, his direct involvement wouldn’t be essential.
His primary role would come after Compound 2611 had passed accelerated Clinical Trials…
Once the synthesis process for Compound 2611 was provided, it was certain that the authorities would mobilize enough resources to produce a sufficient quantity of Compound 2611.
The only thing he needed to consider was probably how to keep the synthesis method of Compound 2611 confidential during the production process.
“Dr. Qin Yu, regarding Compound 2611, do you have any further suggestions?”
The Senior Leader asked Qin Yu again.
Qin Yu shook his head.
“I am just a researcher in the Field of Life Sciences. The subsequent use of Compound 2611 and the related issues it may cause will likely require the authorities to handle them.”
“I cannot offer much valuable input on these matters.”
He couldn’t be bothered with such things.
The widespread adoption of Compound 2611 would inevitably turn society upside down, but these specific problems weren’t his responsibility.
The Senior Leader nodded, then seemed to remember something.
He smiled again at Qin Yu.
“I do have another question I’d like to trouble you with, Dr. Qin Yu, to hear your opinion.”
“With Compound 2611 becoming widely used, we certainly won’t be able to keep its existence a secret any longer. Other powers within Huaxia Nation will undoubtedly want to obtain it.”
“Dr. Qin Yu, do you think we should engage in trade with those other powers regarding Compound 2611?”
To be precise, Qin Yu didn’t need to be asked this.
Although Qin Yu was the one who researched Compound 2611, this was the result of a project supported by university and national scientific research funds.
Even if the authorities definitely wouldn’t shortchange Qin Yu,
his explicit agreement wasn’t actually necessary.
“It can be withheld short-term. After a period of time, considering agreements with other powers might be feasible, exchanging Compound 2611 for currently critical technologies.”
Qin Yu didn’t worry about all that. Since he was being asked, he offered his opinion.
“The reason lies in Compound 2611’s life-extending effects. In the long run, letting other nations maintain a faster population turnover rate than ourselves would not be beneficial.”
This was actually one of the drawbacks of life extension that Qin Yu had mentioned earlier.
“Thank you for your advice, Dr. Qin Yu. Do you need anything else? Aside from accelerating Compound 2611 production, anything for yourself?”
“You can mention it right away. Your contribution to Huaxia Nation, indeed to humanity as a whole, through the Human Lifespan Extension project is immense.”
The Senior Leader asked another question.
Normally, arrangements for such things would be made naturally.
But this Senior Leader still proactively inquired.
Qin Yu paused for a moment.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Material needs weren’t particularly urgent for him.
He didn’t have many expenses; just eating was purely enjoying fine food for him.
Money wasn’t scarce either.
Not to mention the substantial longitudinal research funding from the university and state over the past year,
he received significant donations from rich individuals and companies for non-governmental research, with absolutely no one questioning how he spent it.
The expensive research equipment filling his two private Laboratories represented a rather staggering total value.
And now, after the discovery? Any piece of research equipment he requested would likely appear immediately. Spending money on meals felt impossible anytime soon.
As for power beyond money?
Ever since his three wishes were granted,
he had implicitly acquired what he considered the greatest authority in this world – nothing could truly constrain him.
He could do almost anything he wanted with true freedom.
After thinking for a moment,
Qin Yu made a request that, to a normal person, sounded quite strange.
“I would like to know if our nation has a place like a ‘Doomsday Gene Bank’ or ‘doomsday seed vault’.”
“If such a place exists, could I be put in charge of it?”
“……”
Qin Yu’s words made the Senior Leader momentarily silent.
The topic felt rather sudden.
Then, the Senior Leader seemed to recall some information he’d reviewed before coming.
As the researcher who developed Compound 2611, a substance with immense potential impact,
the Senior Leader must have thoroughly examined Qin Yu’s personal file and background before meeting him.
Qin Yu’s resume was straightforward.
The only standout point was the ‘Apocalypse Anxiety’ of this super-genius.
It was unclear if it was because of his extreme intelligence, but this genius’s active mind always seemed to make him overthink.
His records specifically noted,
an unusually intense worry and fear about the potential arrival of doom.
He had even seen a psychiatrist for it, reportedly?
Of course,
in the information the Senior Leader saw, psychology experts had speculated
it might stem from the successive loss of Qin Yu’s parents,
making him far more sensitive than most to life’s unpredictable misfortunes.
Combined with his extraordinarily active mind, this ultimately manifested as his Apocalypse Anxiety.
Yet here and now,
facing Qin Yu, arguably the greatest biologist and Life Science scholar of the century, making such a small request,
what else could the Senior Leader do?
Even if the request sounded slightly odd,
could it possibly be denied?
“This matter… I might need to make some inquiries… Please wait a moment, Dr. Qin Yu.”
The Senior Leader moved away to find Shen Yaoguo, the person in charge of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to ask.
Shen Yaoguo presumably then had someone check the relevant records.
In short, it wasn’t long before the Senior Leader stood before Qin Yu again, giving his answer.
“A dedicated ‘Doomsday Gene Bank’ or ‘doomsday seed vault’ as such doesn’t exist. However, there are indeed several research institutes and organizations whose subordinate departments perform similar functions.”
“You are, Dr. Qin Yu, an outstanding, exceptional biologist, a scholar in the Life Science field. If you are willing, you certainly could take charge of such departments.”
“Within the Life Science Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, overseen by Academician Wu Ming, there is a quite comprehensive Life Gene Bank stored here. It holds various materials like human fertilized eggs, physiological samples from other animals, cells, gene data… etc. If a major natural disaster truly occurred and this gene bank remained intact, it could indeed play a role in restoring species diversity.”
Seeing the Senior Leader’s reaction, Qin Yu immediately knew the man had seen the file regarding his ‘Apocalypse Anxiety’.
There was nothing surprising about this.
If the authorities hadn’t discovered that part, Qin Yu would have been far more suspicious.