7: Chapter 7 Lectures

The next afternoon, Chen Youhua arrived at the School of Life Sciences auditorium more than half an hour ahead of schedule.

The hall was large, resembling a small theater.

At the front was a wide stage with a massive white projection screen hanging from it.

The audience seating consisted of deep red cushioned chairs with high backs, which were quite comfortable to sit in.

He scanned the room and walked straight toward the front-middle section, choosing a seat and sitting down.

This spot was very close to the podium, allowing him to clearly see the speaker's expressions and subtle movements, and the view was directly centered on the projection screen.

Most importantly, from this angle, when the person on stage looked straight ahead, they would easily lock eyes with him.

It was still early, and there were very few people in the auditorium, with only a few scattered students and people who looked like teachers sitting in the back rows.

He took out his notebook and pen, sat quietly, and closed his eyes to rest, mentally reviewing the key points the lecture might cover one last time.

As the lecture's start time approached, people began to trickle in.

Chen Youhua opened his eyes and observed.

Eventually, about two-thirds of the seats were filled, leaving quite a few empty spots in the back.

The auditorium felt a bit empty.

He wasn't surprised by this.

Biology, especially in the direction of basic research, was indeed not a popular field at the moment.

Ordinary people were more concerned with majors that could be quickly monetized, focusing on salaries and financial prospects.

Things like "the mysteries of life" or "future potential" were, in the eyes of most people, far less practical than a high-paying job.

They weren't geniuses; they couldn't understand the immense value of exploring the unknown itself, nor could they endure the long and uncertain road of research.

Chen Youhua felt no ripples of emotion; he simply felt that everyone had their own ambitions, and it wasn't necessarily a bad thing for resources to be concentrated on those truly willing to commit.

At exactly 3:00 PM, Professor Zhang Zhenhua stepped onto the podium on time.

He looked to be in his fifties, with neatly combed hair, wearing a well-fitted dark suit without a tie, making him appear both formal and approachable.

He adjusted the microphone, and his voice rang out clearly and steadily.

"Good afternoon, teachers and students. Today, let's talk about that sophisticated skeletal system inside the cell.

And how it acts like an invisible hand of fate, influencing or even determining the future of a cell."

The lecture began.

Professor Zhang's teaching style was just as rumored: proceeding from the simple to the profound, well-organized, and highly charismatic.

He didn't start by piling on obscure technical terms; instead, he began with basic life activities like the need for cells to maintain their shape, move, and divide, leading into the necessity of the cytoskeleton.

He first briefly introduced the three main components of the cytoskeleton.

microtubule, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments.

Accompanied by an exquisite animated PPT.

He demonstrated how these protein fibers dynamically assemble and disassemble within the cell, forming a rapidly changing network.

Then, he delved into the core.

Dynamic regulation—he explained the "engineers" driving these dynamic changes.

Various binding proteins, nucleating factors, and severing proteins.

Finally, he elevated the lecture to its core theme: how the dynamic regulation of the cytoskeleton affects cell fate determination.

He explained how, during apoptosis, the cytoskeleton undergoes characteristic disintegration and reorganization, becoming a morphological marker of the cell's path toward death.

He also mentioned the latest research hotspots: how dynamic changes in the skeleton influence gene expression through mechanotransduction, thereby participating in cell differentiation or survival decisions.

Throughout the lecture, Professor Zhang was logically rigorous and used vivid language.

He maintained a solid theoretical height while using common metaphors and intuitive animations to make complex mechanisms easy to understand.

He occasionally interspersed cutting-edge research progress and discoveries from his own laboratory, showcasing depth while stimulating the audience's interest.

The auditorium was very quiet; most people were listening intently, with the occasional rustle of pen tips gliding across paper from the back rows.

Chen Youhua sat there, equally focused.

Every concept, every pathway, and every regulatory mechanism Professor Zhang spoke of.

He had already chewed over and deeply understood them over the past three months; he was confident that, in the depth of his study on certain details, he was already on par with an average graduate student.

Not only had he read the key literature mentioned by Professor Zhang, but he had also repeatedly scrutinized the experimental designs and data interpretations within them.

Yet, he still listened very carefully.

He listened carefully not because he didn't understand, but to capture Professor Zhang's unique perspective, his way of articulating key issues, and his personal inclinations regarding certain scientific controversies.

The pen in his hand occasionally recorded a few keywords in his notebook.

He wasn't recording the lecture content, but rather noting the emphasis in some of Professor Zhang's expressions.

Or points that instantly came to mind that could be further explored or questioned.

Listening while already possessing the knowledge was more like a high-intensity mental rehearsal and the accumulation of a sense of presence.

Time passed as Professor Zhang explained profound things in simple terms.

The images on the projection screen switched from precise molecular structure diagrams to dynamic cell migration videos, and then to complex signaling pathway networks.

An atmosphere of focused pursuit of knowledge permeated the auditorium.

Chen Youhua sat in the cushioned seat in the front row, like a quiet shadow blending in.

Yet he knew clearly why he was there and what his next goal was.

The core content of the lecture concluded after the simple yet profound explanation.

Professor Zhang gave a brief summary, emphasizing the central role of dynamic cytoskeleton regulation in life activities and its immense potential in disease occurrence and treatment.

Then, he looked down at the audience with an encouraging smile: "Due to time constraints, that's all for today's lecture.

Next is the Q&A session. Teachers and students, you are welcome to ask questions and exchange ideas."

Polite applause rang out in the auditorium.

Chen Youhua put down his pen and looked calmly at the podium.

He knew that the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

As for what to ask and how to catch Professor Zhang's attention?

He had already made arrangements in his heart.

He was in no hurry to ask a question right away.

Instead, he waited until Professor Zhang had called on two people before he started to raise his hand.

This involved a significant element of gambling.

But he still wanted the questions from those two people to form a sharp contrast with his own.

He silently thought, "Sorry, brothers."

When the second person finished their question.

Chen Youhua raised his hand.

And the professor's eyes instantly turned toward him.

Their eyes met.