"But at least there's some consolation: Sample 93 successfully mutated a gene that can suppress the onset of Black Thorn Disease. There's hope for a gene potion."
As Dr. Joyce spoke, he removed his glove, revealing the back of his hand, already webbed with black veins. He addressed the camera. "Unfortunately, I won't live to see that day. I hope whoever finds this message can continue developing the gene potion."
He went on to share the experience he had gained and the wrong turns he had taken while researching Black Thorn Disease. He showed some of the relevant materials and proposed a method of influencing genetic mutations by using special environments—for example, testing possible ways to trigger effective genetic mutations one by one. In today's game world, this counted as a relatively controllable form of treatment. Players in some sub-districts might fall ill because of their environment, while others underwent Special Evolution. The results weren't necessarily bad, so some people had tried to replicate the process in hopes of getting a favorable outcome.
Of course, this method of treatment wasn't ideal, and most people weren't willing to try it. Too many factors were uncontrollable. Even if it achieved the intended result, individual differences could lead to other adverse changes, so it was mostly used in preliminary experiments.
Dr. Joyce had also reached a fairly clear conclusion about what caused Black Thorn Disease. When the environment throughout District 010 changed, a type of ore underground underwent a peculiar transformation. The real cause of the disease was sudden exposure to a large dose of radioactive elements, and the disease was also highly hereditary.
However, those living in District 010 now had nothing to worry about, because the element had already dissipated. He had used instruments to simulate the environment with the ore