Moonlight Over Helios: The PHGDH Paradox

In the high-stakes world of Silicon Valley biotech, Dr. Sheng Zhon and his eclectic team at UCSD stand on the brink of a revolution: their discovery of the PHGDH gene’s hidden function not only predicts, but actively triggers, the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. With the enigmatic AI-Helios accelerating their research, the team engineers NCT-503—a molecule that could change the fate of millions. But as news leaks and the promise of predictive medicine electrifies the world, hope quickly mutates into fear. Families rush for genetic tests, corporations scramble to corner the market, and a storm of misinformation threatens to drown out hard-won scientific truth. While biotech giants Genomicor and Neurospira deploy shadowy tactics to seize control, Sheng’s team is pulled into a vortex of ethical dilemmas, regulatory minefields, and personal sacrifice. The AI that once felt like a partner begins to blur the line between collaborator and creator, forcing the scientists to question who—or what—is truly steering their destiny. With society poised on the edge of genetic determinism, and the specter of discrimination looming, Sheng and his team must choose: protect their discovery from exploitation, or risk unleashing a future where the price of knowledge may be too high to pay. In a world where knowing your fate is possible—and profitable—who owns the right to rewrite destiny? Inspired by: AI Helps Find a Cause of Alzheimer's Disease and Identify Therapeutic Candidate - https://today.ucsd.edu/story/ai-helps-unravel-a-cause-of-alzheimers-disease-and-identify-a-therapeutic-candidate