Chapter 37: The Triple-Helix Genetic Archive

　　Part 1: A Failed Hypothesis　　"First thing I have to tell you is—the story about sealing the cultivation chamber was a cover! For the next two months, my advisor and I were busy doing research inside. Don't ask why."　　Young Master Feng and I exchanged a glance, then nodded vigorously.　　"At first, I thought the problem was with the spores. But I'd specifically taken micrographs of them before culturing. The spores in the photos were identical. Even if they didn't grow into Glowing Jelly Mushrooms, they shouldn't have produced that menagerie of monstrosities!"　　He had a point. Identical spores should produce identical mushrooms, just like you plant melon seeds to get melons. But Mr. Egg's situation was like planting a bean and harvesting sweet potatoes, potatoes, green beans, and cabbage all at once. It defied all logic.　　"Before the accident, I briefly entertained this hypothesis: that fully mature Glowing Jelly Mushrooms don't reproduce via spores at all, but leave behind rhizomorphs and regenerate in situthrough mitosis. Meaning, where one mushroom grows, the next one can only regrow in that exact same spot."　　"But wouldn't that mean there'd only ever be one?" Young Master Feng looked at the cave full of mushrooms, puzzled by the hypothesis.　　"Exactly, that's what I thought! Based on the earlier discoveries, I genuinely believed, for a time, that only a single specimen existed."　　"Wait, Mr. Egg," I interrupted, "even if that premise were true, it still doesn't explain the army of freaks."　　"Patience, let me finish." Mr. Egg made a 'settle down' gesture.　　"If Glowing Jelly Mushrooms don't reproduce via spores, then those spores must serve another purpose. Imagine if the Glowing Jelly Mushroom itself is actually a composite organism—a symbiotic aggregation of multiple fungal species that only togethertake that specific form. Then, naturally, the spores would be the same. They might look identical under the microscope, but each