Although Chen Xin’s reasons were compelling, ultimately he failed to persuade Qin Lan and Mo Qingyan.

Of course, neither did they persuade Chen Xin to abandon his idea of genetic modification.

The discussion among the three nearly ended on a sour note, but eventually, Chen Xin chose to compromise, promising to proceed gradually, starting with simple genetic enhancement and adjustment, creating the Adjuvant from the Gundam series, instead of jumping straight into creating Space Marines.

While essentially there is no fundamental difference between the two, in terms of acceptability by ordinary people, it was much more palatable.

Moreover, for Chen Xin, creating Adjuvants was also considerably simpler.

The reason Space Marines are so powerful and possess extraordinarily strong physiques is that they undergo nineteen surgical modifications over ten years, implanting various enhancement organs, to grow into super soldiers standing two and a half meters tall and weighing over two hundred kilograms.

Furthermore, they need to undergo a hundred years of recruit training afterward, inheriting a thousand years of combat memories passed down through their genes, to truly become a Space Marine, don the Power Armor that has also been passed down for hundreds if not thousands of years, and become the Empire’s most formidable force, the demigods riding the Galaxy.

As for the Adjuvants from the Gundam series, although in the original work, genetic modification starts from the embryonic stage, for Chen Xin, creating the gene enhancement serum mentioned in those old sci-fi novels, a simple injection to achieve genetic optimization and adjustment, was much easier than truly replicating a Space Marine.

After thinking it over, Chen Xin realized there was indeed no need to take too big of a step.

With Chen Xin’s promise, Qin Lan and Mo Qingyan ceased to say much, although they still retained reservations about the matter.

However, while Chen Xin managed to placate Qin Lan and Mo Qingyan, pushing this matter forward with the state was not so easily accomplished.

The state, knowing Chen Xin wanted to conduct research in the genetic field, originally had a supportive attitude, but the genetic modification plan to create super soldiers proposed by Chen Xin encountered much opposition.

Following repeated meetings, debates, and even disputes, the state dispatched a moral and ethical review group composed of experts in related fields to Chen Xin to examine his research project.

Chen Xin did not refuse this; instead, he cooperatively explained his intentions, the relevant ideas, and the means to achieve them.

"So, Academician Chen, your genetic modification experiment is not achieved through gene editing of embryos?" After hearing Chen Xin’s explanation, one expert in the review group, whose stern expression slightly relaxed, asked Chen Xin.

Faced with this question, Chen Xin did not nod just to pass the review. Instead, he explained: "I envision that the modification of wolves still needs to be achieved through genetic adjustments to embryos, but for human modification, considering the growth time of a normal human, I think modifying an adult individual directly is a quicker method to see results."

"Gene editing itself is not illegal, and the state is actively conducting research in the relevant field; the restrictions in this field are not as stringent as one might imagine." The expert nodded slightly, refraining from explicitly stating anything but exuding a good-natured attitude.

However, while this expert held a benevolent attitude, another expert appeared extremely hostile, displaying an attitude of strong dislike toward Chen Xin.

"Have you considered the consequences of human genetic modification? Pollution of the human gene pool violates social moral ethics and endangers national security!" As soon as this expert spoke, he placed a significant accusation.

Regarding such accusations, Chen Xin merely looked at this expert and retorted nonchalantly, "Cyberpunk full-body prosthetic modifications are acceptable to you, so why oppose simple genetic enhancement? Human supremacy? Fundamentalism? If scientists maintain such notions, human civilization will not progress."

"You!" Chen Xin’s remarks were quite harsh, almost directly accusing the expert of being stuck in the past, naturally angering the other party.

However, this expert was held back by the review group’s leader beside him.

"Academician Chen Xin, this review is mainly to examine whether your research conforms to moral and ethical standards. Researchers must revere life, follow rules, and safeguard the purity of frontier scientific fields to let innovative achievements better benefit humanity." The review group leader emphasized to Chen Xin, neither harsh nor kind in attitude: "Although technological development has brought earth-shattering changes to society, and we are now in exceptional times and environments, research must still adhere strictly to ethical norms, and the ethical baseline cannot be touched or challenged.

Your research, although not performing gene editing on embryos, even so, will the individuals who complete genetic modification transmit the modified genes to the next generation? Will such inheritance result in side effects or unforeseeable outcomes? Are these genetically modified individuals still considered humans, or should they be called new humans?

Academician Chen Xin, you are young and have many ideas, which we old folks might lack in vigor, but I think you should be more cautious. Do you have comprehensive consideration for these issues?"

This speech from the review group’s leader softened Chen Xin’s previously tense attitude, allowing him to reassess his emotions before continuing, "Genetic modification inherently involves optimizing and enhancing existing human genes, directly affecting adult individuals, and indeed, this will be inherited by future generations.

Regarding whether there might be side effects or unforeseeable outcomes, I cannot give you a definitive answer, as only less than 2% of human genes function in encoding proteins, with the remaining 98% whose roles are uncertain.

Although the genetic modifications I intend to do will only adjust this 2%, I can guarantee that at least for three generations, there will be no issues, but whether the enhancement will conflict with inherent human genes or cause new mutations is something needing long-term experiments and observations to ascertain.

As for the question of new humans and old humans, it is not a problem at all, as everyone can accept genetic modifications to become new humans."

Pausing deliberately, Chen Xin then looked at the expert who had previously exhibited hostility toward him before continuing, "Of course, if anyone believes human genes are sacred and inviolable, viewing any alteration as desecration, they can also choose to retain their original genes to maintain the purity of the human gene pool."