The whole point of the entire series is that the protomolecule is an unknown quantity. They don't know (exactly) where it came from, how it works, what it's for

The whole point of the entire series is that the protomolecule is an unknown quantity. They don't know (exactly) where it came from, how it works, what it's for. Only that it is extremely dangerous. And then plots are built around that. If they knew (and explained) how it worked, then all their problems would be solved and the show would end.