NOVEL WEB Chapter 13
Episode 13: The Discovery of Bacteria (3)
***
Teacher Istina suddenly looked up from the paper she was reading.
“Uh, what’s that? If we had a really powerful magnifying glass, we might be able to see it.”
Istina seemed to have a rough idea already.
“That’s correct. As Mr. Oliver mentioned earlier, the best method would be to perceptually confirm these mysterious microscopic particles,” I said, looking around the lecture hall.
“For the time being, my lectures will focus on proving the existence of these particles and understanding their characteristics. Come forward, please.”
Oliver cautiously stepped forward as I placed the newly made microscope on the podium.
“Take a look through it.”
Unfortunately, due to issues with focus and transparency, the microscope’s performance wasn’t great. And without any staining agents… well, bacteria wouldn’t be visible anyway. For now, I’d just focused it on a water bear collected from the academy pond. Fun fact: water bears are about 500 times larger than bacteria!
“Hey, I can see something moving!”
“Right?”
Oliver pulled his eyes away from the microscope.
“Is this the cause of diseases?”
“Nope. It’s just an example of a microscopic organism.”
I turned to the students.
“Ms. Istina, what characteristics must a particle observed in patients meet to prove it’s the cause of disease?”
Istina frowned, clearly wondering why I was asking her.
“Um… I’m not sure, but first, it should come from the patient, right?”
“Correct!”
Istina let out a sigh of relief.
***
I picked up the chalk again.
– The cause of infectious diseases: Microscopic Particles.
A female student sitting next to Oliver raised her hand. People always love to challenge others’ statements, don’t they? If I had only given basic explanations, the students would’ve fallen asleep by now.
These students are like sharks smelling blood, trying to find flaws in my words. But hey, it’s a positive situation!
“Yes? Your name?”
“Amy.”
“Go ahead, Amy.”
What an unusual name…
“Diseases can occur in various places, but there’s no evidence that the particles you’re talking about exist everywhere, Professor.”
“A valid criticism.”
I glanced around the classroom.
“Then, how could we prove that these particles exist in the air?”
“I don’t know…”
“Think about it. Microorganisms are living things, so they could die from physical or chemical stimuli, right?”
Amy nodded.
“If we heat a sample to kill the microorganisms and compare it with another exposed to air versus one that isn’t, that could work, right?”
“Ah, I see! You’re saying if we boil the sample to kill the microorganisms, then seal off the air, the sample shouldn’t decay, correct?”
Exactly.
I drew two flasks on the board with chalk.
This is Pasteur’s experiment—disproving the theory of spontaneous generation and proving that the cause of decay and disease lies in bacteria in the air, not the air itself.
We’ll do this later…
“Let’s think further. Are there other ways to prove the existence of these particles?”
Oliver raised his hand again.
“Oliver.”
“If these particles really cause disease, couldn’t we see them in the wounds of patients?”
I nodded.
“It’s a good idea… but not easy. Both bacteria and human cells are transparent unless stained.”
“So am I wrong?”
It’s technically correct, but challenging. Even with modern equipment, distinguishing between bacterial and cellular components isn’t simple.
“Could you distinguish between the components of the human body and the problematic particles, Mr. Oliver? Keep in mind the limitations of our current equipment. Just because bacteria aren’t visible doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
Oliver furrowed his brow after pondering for a moment.
I picked up the chalk again.
– The Components and Structure of the Human Body.
“Professor, then what does the fine structure of the human body look like?”
Great question!
“What do you think it looks like? Think about it. What kind of fine structure would most effectively support life functions?”
Oliver scratched his head.
“Um…”
Surprisingly, there’s an answer to this question. If you’ve studied biology or physiology, you’d know one undeniable truth:
The close relationship between structure and function—a universal principle across all levels of biology.
From the lungs’ structure maximizing surface area exposed to air, to the double helix of nucleic acids allowing easy unwinding and stretching.
Of course, the cellular structure common to all living beings is closely tied to its function. Isn’t cell theory logically deducible? Upon reflection, it might be.
Oliver ultimately couldn’t answer.
“Alright, let’s simplify. Everyone knows the human body is 70% water, right?”
Oliver nodded.
“But water doesn’t leak out of our bodies, does it? There must be a structure capable of holding large amounts of water… Ms. Istina, give it a shot.”
“Um… a sponge-like structure?”
“A sponge-like structure makes sense, but since sponges drip water, there must also be membranes preventing water movement at various levels.”
I scanned the room.
“Amy, summarize your thoughts.”
Amy cleared her throat.
“The human body, being 70% water, likely consists of porous structures with fine membranes preventing water movement…?”
Excellent response!
Though excellent, there’s another point to consider. At which level do these fine structures preventing water movement exist, and at which level do the porous structures exist?
Answering that gets complicated.
The semi-permeable membranes controlling water movement within tissues are roughly 100 micrometers in size. The porous structures, more abstractly viewed as sponge-like at the macroscopic level, are measured in millimeters.
Different levels.
The porous structures of the human body belong to the vascular level, measured in millimeters, while the semi-permeable membranes of cells are in the nanometer or micrometer range.
This time, Istina raised her hand.
“Um… what exactly is ‘level’?”
This is more scientific than medical. How do we categorize and explain the human body as a single system?
“When we say ‘level,’ think of it as size, though here it also implies the degree to which information is organized.”
Istina stared blankly at me, clearly confused.
I drew a stick figure on the board.
“This is a person.”
Giggles erupted throughout the lecture hall. Though unintentionally humorous, such basics need explanation.
“A person consists of organ systems: respiratory, digestive, etc.”
“Oh, right.”
“Organ systems consist of organs, which consist of tissues. So, what units make up tissues?”
Istina blinked blankly again. Organ systems, organs, tissues… what now?
I sighed.
“Istina, didn’t you graduate? Why don’t you know this? Oliver, go ahead.”
***
Amy watched the professor during the lecture.
This is the famous professor who arrived in the imperial carriage escorting the princess.
I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but apparently not.
‘I’ve thought long and hard about how to conduct these lectures.’
Translation: He’s planning to torture us.
‘After much consideration, I decided the best approach would be to teach exactly as I conduct my research.’
Translation: He wants the undergraduates to die. Teaching based on professors’ research—how are we supposed to understand that? Even if we did, would it even help?
Looking around, I noticed Professor Klaus sitting at the back, and right up front sat one of Professor Asterix’s grad students. Looks like they’re just using undergrads as props because they’re bored discussing their own research.
Well, if they’re going to use us as props, they should at least stick to it. Why keep asking undergrads questions we have no way of answering? They should just chat amongst themselves.
‘By ‘level,’ think of it as size, though here it also refers to the degree of information organization.’
Hmm, sounds like some sort of incantation.
This is more philosophical than medical. Realizing we don’t understand, he turns around and starts drawing something.
Professor Asterix sketched something with chalk—a stick figure of a human. What’s he trying to explain by drawing the human body?
“This is a person.”
Clearly insane. Can’t help but laugh. What is this nonsense?