16: Chapter 16 Cytoskeleton and Microtopography

The afternoon sunlight outside the window slanted onto the instruments, glinting with a cold metallic light.

Professor Zhang Zhenhua had just pushed the door open and entered, bringing with him the outdoor summer heat. His face couldn't hide a trace of fatigue, but his eyes remained as sharp as searchlights as they swept across the lab bench.

He took off his slightly wrinkled coat, hung it up, and walked toward his own small, independent space partitioned by glass.

Chen Youhua's heart beat steadily in his chest, like a precision instrument warming up.

He knew it was now or never.

What he held in his hand wasn't just paper; it was the stepping stone he had spent several nights refining and polishing.

Two pages of a handwritten project proposal.

The handwriting wasn't exactly beautiful, but it was organized and clear.

He walked to the open doorway of Professor Zhang's cubicle and tapped twice lightly on the door frame. The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to pierce the quiet air.

"Teacher Zhang, are you free right now? I have an idea I'd like you to take a look at."

Professor Zhang had just settled into his chair. Hearing the voice, he looked up and pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

The gaze behind the lenses fell precisely on the few thin sheets of paper in Chen Youhua's hand.

"Oh? Xiao Chen,"

He raised a finger and pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Sit. Tell me, what's the idea?"

Chen Youhua sat down as told. Without any redundant pleasantries, he handed over the proposal directly.

"It's about the cytoskeleton, specifically microtubules, and their reaction in special physical environments."

"I've looked at a lot of the group's data on microtubule dynamics and read quite a bit of literature on how cells perceive external shapes. I was thinking,"

He gestured with both hands.

"If we could create some extremely tiny, specialized topographies on the bottom surface where we culture the cells."

"For example, miniature pillars as dense as a forest, or fine grooves like a maze? Then, we use a microscope for real-time tracking to look at the cytoskeletons of the cells living in these micro-landscapes."

"Specifically, would the behavior of the microtubules responsible for transport change? Are there patterns to follow? Or even... could we predict their next move?"

Professor Zhang took the paper, his eyes quickly scanning the title and key points on the first page.

Only the rustle of turning pages and the faint tail end of a campus broadcast from outside the window remained in the office.

He read quickly, his brow furrowing slightly at times and smoothing out at others.

"Hmm, not a bad idea."

Professor Zhang put down the proposal and leaned forward slightly. His eyes looked directly at Chen Youhua like a scalpel, carrying a sense of scrutiny.

"The entry point is very specific, which is better than talking about empty concepts. Using the physical micro-environment to question the cytoskeleton—this angle is quite interesting."

He changed his tone, like a sudden slam on the brakes.

"But," he paused, "where's the difficulty? Have you thought about that?"

"I have. It's mainly in the data."

Chen Youhua answered without hesitation, clearly having gone over the difficulties in his mind countless times.

"The stability and repeatability of manufacturing these micro-topographies might require help from the Materials Science department, or we could buy ready-made chips. Tracking the dynamics of single microtubules in living cells over long periods will result in a flood of data, which is a huge test for the microscope's stability and environmental control. Finally,"

He emphasized his tone.

"How do we quickly and accurately translate the key behaviors of microtubules from this massive amount of dynamic imagery? For instance, which way they grow, their speed, and when they turn or retract? Relying on human eyes to stare at a screen and count? That would take forever. We must rely on algorithms for automatic tracking and analysis."

"Algorithms?"

Professor Zhang's eyes brightened slightly behind his lenses.

He knew Chen Youhua had a solid theoretical foundation, but writing code and doing image analysis? This was a new battlefield.

"How is your programming foundation? What about image processing?"

"I'm learning Python. I've looked at some basic principles and am still practicing the hands-on operation."

Chen Youhua spoke truthfully, without any pretense.

"If the project succeeds, this part is a mountain I must conquer. I'll also inevitably need to seek advice from the senior students."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Professor Zhang's fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the desk, a signature move when he was deep in thought.

The air seemed to freeze.

Chen Youhua held his breath and waited quietly.

Success or failure hung in the balance of these few seconds of weighing.

"Hmm..."

Professor Zhang finally spoke again. His tone was more relaxed than before, even carrying a hint of almost imperceptible... interest?

"The idea is feasible, and the approach is correct. The difficulties are indeed significant, especially the data analysis part—that's a tough nut to crack."

His gaze locked onto Chen Youhua.

"However, since you've dared to propose it, do you intend to crack this tough nut yourself?"

"Yes, Teacher Zhang!"

Chen Youhua's answer was categorical, without the slightest hesitation.

"From experimental design, main operations, and data collection to core analysis, I want to take the lead myself."

"Of course, the whole process will need your oversight, as well as the full support of the senior students on specific technical aspects, especially in the early stages of imaging and chip acquisition."

"Good!"

Professor Zhang suddenly raised his hand and slapped the desk—not heavily, but very decisively!

This "thwack" gave Senior Student Wang Zhe, who happened to be passing by the door, a start. He immediately poked his head in from the door frame with a confused "what's going on?" expression.

"It's great that young people have ideas and are willing to take on responsibilities!"

Professor Zhang picked up the handwritten proposal and glanced at it again.

"Leave this with me. I still need to mull over the details, especially the source of the chips and the rigor of the initial experimental design. How about this,"

He looked at Chen Youhua.

"Over the next couple of days, flesh out a more detailed version including the list of materials needed, preliminary experimental steps, and time estimates. Give it to me before next week's group meeting."

"At next week's group meeting, you'll also give a brief presentation of this idea to everyone so we can brainstorm together."

"Understood! Thank you, Teacher Zhang!"

A huge weight lifted from Chen Youhua's heart; he knew this was basically a go.

He stood up to leave.

"Wait,"

Professor Zhang called out to him. A rare expression that looked almost like a smile appeared on his face, though it was very faint.

"When you're cracking a tough nut, don't try to tough it out alone. Come to me when you need to, and ask Senior Student Wang Zhe when you have questions."

"Use the lab's resources as you need; don't hold back. I'll be waiting to see,"

He used a somewhat odd but exceptionally vivid term.

"Whether your topography and cytoskeleton dance can stay on beat."

"Will do, Teacher Zhang!"

Chen Youhua nodded and walked out of the office.

Just as he stepped out, his arm was grabbed by the gossipy Senior Student Wang Zhe.

"What's the situation? Did you get scolded? I heard Teacher Zhang slap the table!"

Wang Zhe lowered his voice, his eyes wide.

"No."

Chen Youhua walked toward his temporary workstation with a calm tone, but his steps were a bit lighter than usual.

"Teacher Zhang agreed to let me do a small project of my own."

"What?!"

Wang Zhe's voice instantly jumped up an octave, sounding exceptionally abrupt in the quiet lab. It caused several senior students nearby, who were buried in data, to look up in unison.

"Your own project?! It's only been over a month, Junior Brother Xiao Chen! What project? Tell me!"

"It's just... studying the reaction of the cytoskeleton in micro-artificial topographies."

Chen Youhua responded vaguely. He was already seated at his computer, fingers clicking on the keyboard as he began to pitter-patter away at detailing the materials list and experimental steps Teacher Zhang wanted.

The cursor blinked on the screen, reflecting his focused profile.

For the past month or so, the experiments he had done were more like replaying a predecessor's musical movement—following a set routine without much excitement.

But at this moment, every word he typed was composing his own first movement.

From theoretical verification to experimental design, and then to step planning.

If this entire process could be completed, it would mean that in the eyes of his mentor and senior students, his position on the invisible chessboard of the laboratory was already different for this newcomer.

This was the true beginning.