THE CLANDESTINE GENOME: Illegal Enhancing Genetic Attributes

By Samuel Greenberg M.D.

Genetics like AI is seeping into all of our activities; The COVID vaccine is an RNA construct; Our foods are genetically modified; Congenital defects are thwarted by genetic editing; Paternity and Criminality can be attested to by DNA analysis; Genetically related diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease or Hemophilia can be reversed with gene replacement or removal; Cancer is being genetically categorized for specific treatments so, why not enhance athletic or mental ability by editing genes -- BECAUSE ITS ILLEGAL. But it is being done clandestinely?!! You bet, somewhere -- it is! Two geneticist, a husband and wife, go undercover to seek its activity out and hopefully, thwart it! Still, where money and fame are involved, it could be dangerous!!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 30, 2025
• ISBN: 9798823054294

Samuel Greenberg M.D.

Dr. Greenberg is an octigenarian, who has been practicing medicine for 65 years. He went to Tulane University for two years in premed and then entered medical school as the youngest in his class. He graduated in the top 10% of his class at 23 years old. He practiced Cardiology for 40 years and is now, actively, doing Bariatric (Weight Loss) medicine. His interest in genetics began when his first son was born without arms. His interest in writing occurred when he noticed that "The Last Angry Man" by Gerald Green was dedicated to Samuel Greenberg, M.D, (1886 to 1952)- no relationship. The progress in gene editing and splicing has been monumental and encouraging, but offers certain societal obstacles, which he explores in his writings.

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The Clandestine

Genome

Illegal Enhancing Genetic Attributes

Samuel Greenberg, M.D.

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© 2025 Samuel Greenberg, M.D. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  08/29/2025

ISBN: 979-8-8230-5430-0 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-5431-7 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-5429-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2025918488

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Contents

GROWTH SPURT

Prologue

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

The Clandestine Genome

Prologue

Over the Bar

Mind Boost

King Maker

Super Soldiers

Under the Bar

Captain America

Pony Peril

Marathon Manipulation

Brain Mischief

Fleet of Foot

Growth

Spurt

Silhouette of an alien face with large, slanted eyes and a small mouth on a black background, conveying mystery and intrigue.

Prologue

Five years before this story begins, two geneticists, Drs. John Roberts and Jennifer Watley, posing as parents of a child born with PROGERIA, a rare genetic disorder, took her to a Pharmaceutical Company in Australia. The child, Jenny, as was her name, was to be used, along with other progeria children to find a cure for this terrible disorder. No other pharmaceutical companies were interested in finding a cure or even a treatment for progeria, as it was so rare and therefore, provided no profit to be had! The New World Pharmaceutical Company in Australia was their only hope.

Jenny, was Jennifer’s niece. However, neither Jennifer nor John’s presence or assistance was wanted or desired by this New World Pharmaceutical Company. Neither John nor Jennifer could understand just why this was so. Thus, these two geneticists, under cover as Jenny’s real parents, at the request of a Computer company executive and his country club wife, Jerald and Jennifer Hanson, who were Jenny’s real parents, hoped to observe and, perhaps even surreptitiously, find a way to help this company discover a treatment or even a cure for Progeria. Jenny, who at one and one-half years old, was beginning to show signs of the accelerated aging process known as progeria.

It turns out that John and Jennifer were not wanted because New World was, actually, using these children, like fast growing lab rats, to test out new drugs intended to be used for the more common illnesses, that normal aging humans developed. Finding treatments for heart disease, psoriasis, Parkinsonism, etc., would indeed, result in huge profits. New World, in fact, had already reaped huge rewards for introducing both a new and effective Angina (heart disease) medication and a fourth generation antihypertensive Ace Inhibitor. The pharmaceutical world was hailing them as the future of the industry. The children’s Progeria was ignored. All became worse and some died. But there were not enough of the rapidly aging progeria children available for study so New World sought and had discovered a way to introduce progeria into surrogate Aboriginal Australian females. They would then birth normal looking babies who were destine to develop progeria. Thusly, their supply of rapidly aging children would be secure. The Aboriginal birth mythology, known as The Dreaming along with their impoverished living circumstances lended itself perfectly to this endeavor.

John and Jennifer stumbled upon this scheme, abducted a surrogate baby, destined to develop progeria and whisked him away and back to their genetics lab in Denver, Colorado. With the help of their staff, they managed to find a treatment for Progeria before it manifested itself and, subsequently, a cure. They returned to Australia to visit Jenny who was slowly deteriorating, There, they surreptitiously added their, newly developed, medication into the drinking water given to the progeria children. Not only did the natural progeria children improve, the surrogate babies did not go on to develop progeria. The New World physicians and geneticists were turned into the authorities. New World was shut down, and the principals were prosecuted as criminals. No one, outside of law enforcement ever learned who turned in those criminals, so the newly married, now John and Jennifer Roberts, who fell in love during this endeavor, were freely allowed to engage in any similar future clandestine activities, should such arise. They, of course, had no idea such an opportunity would present itself, nor were they particularly inclined in that regard!! THEY WERE SIMPLE GENETICISTS—NOT SNOOPERS!!

Incidentally, they adopted the child they had absconded with, who they named Patrick, and had another child, Sophia, of their own. They settled in Denver Colorado!

Silhouette of an alien face with large, slanted eyes and a small mouth on a black background, conveying mystery and intrigue.

Chapter I

With the proper gene, I could rule the world!! When these words were uttered by Dr. Seagrams, the students had come to understand that the post grad Genetics class was over. It was time to gather up one’s books and exit the classroom. Actually, Dr. Seagrams both opened his class lectures and terminated them with this same proclamation. It was his way of illustrating to these graduate students how significant genetics was to mankind. Believe me, he made his point!!

Dr. Johnathan Seagrams PhD., was professor of Genetics at the Northeastern Australian University in Darwin Australia. He was middle age, short, stocky, and bald. But he carried himself upright and with a commanding demeanor, making him seem much taller and significant, and which never failed to command attention.

Presently, attired in his customary 3 piece gray suit, usually regaled by either a deep red or blue tie, deep red on this occasion, Dr. Seagrams was leaning against the examination table situated in the Pit. The Pit, as it was referred to by the students, was the ground floor of the amphitheater, from which semicircular rows of benches for student seating, ascended up towards the ceiling. This amphitheater, where Dr. Seagrams taught class to his graduate genetic students three afternoons a week was attached to the Northeastern Australian Medical School, next to the University Hospital. The medical school was gracious enough to let the Genetics department of the University, located just down the street, use it for its triweekly afternoon lectures. More and more, genetics was assuming a role in the treatment of diseases, and not just congenital ones. Before long, it was possible that genetics would be taken away from the science department at the university and added to the mandatory medical school curriculum. Dr. Seagrams would like that. He always fancied himself in a long white coat. If he could only find an excuse to have a stethoscope hanging about his neck!?

The Pit was where the teaching staff and the medical students, interns and residents were exposed to Grand Rounds. Grand Rounds referred to the biweekly morning meetings, whereby the hospital residents presented and discussed educational and interesting medical patients. These patients usually represented either a specific disease or illustrated a complicated problem which the staff felt would have teaching merit and/or necessitated the input from all of the other various medical specialties to effect a plan of treatment or a more definitive diagnostic approach. The staff would argue about the significance of the various test results, the patient’s history and the physical findings. The patient would either be lying or sitting on the examination table, wearing the customary patient’s gown, opened at the back.

Occasionally one of the teaching professors would exit his or her seat, descend the steps and personally interrogate and examine the patient before offering suggestions. The students interns and residents were invited to offer suggestions, also, should any of them become brave enough to join the fray. It could become confrontational on occasion, illustrating that medicine is more of an art rather than a science. On occasion, no definite diagnosis was reached, but a plan of action resulting in further tests or in a change in treatment would be decided. The patient, hopefully with a definite diagnosis and/or much the better from specific therapy resulting in much improvement, would be brought back at a later date and presented as a follow-up. Unfortunately, on rare occasions, the patient in question would have succumbed to their illness. In that case, the autopsy report would be presented to the assembly where considerations concerning where the diagnosis and/or therapy could have been improved for a better outcome, if such were possible, were discussed. Medicine, even with the proper diagnosis and the use of the latest treatments still didn’t always result in success. Patients still died.

After Grand Rounds was terminated, somewhat much later in the morning, the various personnel were sent off to the classes and/or hospital wards and clinics, depending on their hierarchical medical positions. The teaching staff would repair to their leather seated offices or to the classrooms to teach the undergraduate classes at the medical school or to the hospital to make rounds with the residents and interns.

The large blackboard at the back of the Pit, behind Dr. Seagrams and the examining table which usually contained the signs, symptoms, laboratory test results and diagnoses of various diseases, on this occasion was filled with chemical equations and representations of nucleotides and protein units. These atoms of Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, connected together, every which way, constitute the structure of the body’s amino acids, the rungs of the double helix DNA ladder, forming the genomic structure from which all of life is determined. DNA is the information containing molecule in the nucleus of the cell.

DNA consists of two parallel strands of protein molecules, called nucleotides, connected together in a sequential linear fashion arranged in a double helix configuration. Three of these nucleotides in a row form an Amino acid, of which there are twenty in the human body. Varying lengths of these serially connected Amino acids will occasionally be bundled into a ball-like cluster to form a gene. The human genome has from 30 to 80,000 of these genes. One of the most important function of a gene is to tell the nucleus which of the body’s two hundred or so proteins to produce. Proteins are the building blocks of life, necessary for the building of bodily structures such as cell walls, muscles, etc., and also, to perform certain functions in the body as in Hormones, Enzymes, etc. And each long sequence of protein producing amino acids is repeated over and over because, with wear and tear in the cell, cell death and replication, these proteins have to be constantly reproduced, just as the heart must continue to beat without stopping.

These genes with the double helix ladder connections between them, in turn, are compressed into the 23 pairs of Chromosomes located in the nucleus of almost every human cell. The DNA in each cell is like a recipe book, with each recipe representing a gene and each chapter a chromosome. The DNA in the 23 pairs of human Chromosomes contains about 6 billion nucleotides, 3 billion in each set, one set from the mother and one from the father and each forming one side of the helix DNA ladder.

These students, who Dr. Seagrams was addressing would be up to their DNA eyeballs once they graduated and went out into the world.

As the students were filing out, Dr. Seagrams turned, rounded the examining table and proceeded to wipe the blackboard clean. The attendees wasted no time in exiting the amphitheater, that is-all but one.

A gentleman, who had been sitting in the upper top row off to the extreme side, almost out of sight, during Dr. Seagrams’ lecture, and who had been, industrially, taking notes during that lecture, after patiently allowing all of the students to exit the amphitheater, rose and descended the stairs. With Dr. Seagrams’ back to him, he proceeded to hoist himself up onto the examination table, legs dangling over the side, facing Dr. Seagrams’ back. He remained relaxed. Dr. Seagrams finished clearing the blackboard and, upon turning around, took notice of the gentleman. Because this gentleman was not attired in a short white coat, the mandated decor of the graduate genetics student, Dr. Seagram was cautiously befuddled.

Finally, Dr. Seagrams, asked, How can I help you? Seeing that he had Dr. Seagrams’ full attention, the gentleman replied, Well, for starters, he paused then continued. I am here to discuss just such a gene as you alluded to in your class-that gene that would allow you to rule the world!

Dr. Seagrams had been prepared to be disinterested in whatever was to follow, but now he just stared at the gentleman. The interloper was middle age, had graying temples and was very tall and quite thin. He too, had a 3 piece suit, but obviously of much better quality than that of a college professor. It was adorned by a self tied red and blue stripped bow tie. He had a three inch scar across his left cheek, reminiscent of the fanatical Austrian Rapier club fencers, Dr. Seagrams had met during one of his trips to the genetic shrine. The rapier slash cheek scar was felt to be a badge of courage worn proudly by the fencers. Rumor had it that the fencers even fathomed the scar as being viewed by the opposite sex as an aphrodisiac and so, the bigger the better. Proof of that was only anecdotal, however.

The genetic Shrine is a museum located in a monastery in Brno, Czech Republic. Dr. Gregor Johann Mendel, an abbot at that St. Thomas monastery in Brno, is heralded as the father of genetics. In the mid 1800s, he discovered the reason why we resemble our parents!! He uncovered this new field of genetics while working simply with and observing pea plants. Once his observations were published, genetics was off and running, both for the good and for ill!

The gentleman seemed calm and in no hurry. He sat with his hands on the edge of the examining table with his feet idly swinging, to and fro, bent slightly forward.

Dr. Seagrams finally broke out of his trance. Just what are you suggesting? His voice was a little raised by the no small annoyance this initial statement caused inside him. Imagine the impertinence of having his own superlative proclamation thrown back at him. The answer had better be good—and it was!

The gentleman continued. If you are the geneticist, who was one of the principals in ‘The New World Pharmaceutical Firm’, then the group I represent has a generous offer to present to you. At the mention of New World Pharmaceutical Firm, Dr; Seagrams recoiled backward, such that his back hit against the blackboard, causing a resounding noise. Recovering, he glanced furtively around the room and up the rows of benches to see if there was anyone else in the auditorium, who might have heard this remark. Seeing no one else in the room, he resumed his righteous demeanor and replied. They arrested all the Physicians and the geneticists who were involved with the New World firm. His voice became strident, They were criminals!! I had nothing to do with them!! He had made his point. Discussion closed!

Undeterred, and still calmly swinging his legs, the stranger continued, You left the firm one year prior to their indictment. Furthermore, you did not allow any information concerning your relationship with New World to be contained in any of their records or files. Still, you played a pivotal role in their start-up and in their corrupted immoral behavior. Surely you knew that using those Progerian children as human guinea pigs was wrong!! He would not leave it be.

Where did you get that information from? It is fallacious!! Whoever gave you that information was lying—lying!!, Dr. Seagram erupted, almost yelling. The stranger’s insouciance remained unperturbed. He sat comfortably on the examination table. He replied, My information is correct. I will not go into my sources, but your hysterical response assures me that you are, indeed, the geneticist in question and just the man for our needs!! He didn’t wait for a response, but leaned forward, and, almost confidentially, continued. We have a gene, which increases growth twice the regular speed!! I’m sure you’re aware of the recent gene transplant into salmon which allows them to mature in eighteen months instead of the usual three years. We have a similar genetic DNA promoter sequence which does that in humans. He paused, just slightly, to let the fact sink in, then continued. It would be a boon to young athletes, whose wealthy parents want them to accelerate their growth compared to their, same age peers, so that they can excel in sports and taste that feeling of success contributing to their self-esteem. As you well know, it is thought by many, that success in sports translates to increased success in life. I have numerous rich clients, who would pay generously to have their offspring achieve that advantage. They want nothing but win, win, win for their offspring, and they’re willing to pay generously to see that it happens. Then he chuckled, adding, And what successful athlete doesn’t get the girls?!

Sensing nothing accusatorially happening, Dr. Seagrams began to calm down. He paced, slowly back and forth before the blackboard. He was familiar as to how the Aqua Bounty Technologies company had managed to splice out the DNA growth gene in the ocean pout fish and insert it into the DNA of the salmon, allowing it to accelerate its growth at twice the normal speed. The pout, an eel-like ocean fish, continues to grow throughout the year, while salmon grew only seasonally. This transformation allowed the salmon to grow continuously reaching their mature growth in almost half the usual time. He was, also, aware of the other advantages of such a procedure. The salmons required half the food and could be farm raised close to the cities, decreasing transportation costs. What a win, win for the company. The ethics of this, of course, was still debated in genetic circles but the Aqua Bounty company was poised to be allowed to flood the market with its genetically engineered, early maturing salmon and make a fortune.

Abruptly Dr. Seagrams turned to face the gentleman. He said, I chose to leave the New World Firm, demanding anonymity, because I’m not greedy. Using those children, suffering from Progeria, as human guinea pigs because of their accelerated aging, to develop those several important breakthrough drugs was enough, in my estimation. I pleaded with them to turn our efforts towards actually trying to find a treatment for those unfortunate children. He paused, throwing up his hands and stared at the ceiling, then continued, angrily. But they wouldn’t back off. They were avaricious and look where it got them. I left just in time before they were turned them into the authorities! I’m even told that ‘geneticists’ turned them in’!!

(Aqua Bounty Technology, Inc. The SNP, in this case, is a copy of the op AFP-GH c2 construct, a promoter DNA sequence from ocean Prout which directs Growth Hormone. It encodes a GH protein that is homologous with that of the native GH-1 from Chinook salmon.)

Dr. Seagrams paused again, then added, I never did find out who those geneticists were, because the authorities whisked them away before the raid. The papers did not identify them, either, nor did their names or identities surface during the trials. But I sure would liked to have thanked them if I could have. I too, had thought of exposing New World’s activities to the authorities, on a number of occasions, but was deterred by my own culpability. Those geneticists performed a great service!!

Suddenly Dr. Seagrams extended his hand to the gentleman who took it warmly. The gentleman identified himself as Henrick Wilhelm, an entrepreneur from Germany, who represented a group of worldwide wealthy investors. I have been interested in genetics ever since I was a small boy, when my brother resembled my handsome father and I looked like my unattractive mother, he said. They both laughed. Mr. Wilhelm assumed that by the handshake and the smile that Dr. Seagrams was willing to entertain his proposal. He was right!!

Dr. Seagrams, still holding Mr. Wilhelm’s hand, proceeded to guide him to his private, hole in the wall office, located under the large semicircular amphitheater seating area which the medical school had, also, graciously allowed the genetic teachers to occupy. Dr. Seagrams was smiling. He had grown tired of teaching disinterested students. He was poised to do something big—again!! He also had his eye on an expensive sport’s car, which his professor’s salary precluded him from affording.

Mr. Wilhelm also volunteered that his group was currently investigating the Grim Reaper gene, the gene which determines the usual life span of any given species. If it could be turned off, then one could avoid aging and could live longer-much longer.

SOME YEARS LATER

Doctor Roberts here. I, John Roberts, PhD in genetics, answered the phone while, simultaneously, closing the door to the lab with my foot, and catapulting my six foot two inch frame into the large leather chair in front of the desk. The door with the title Office of the Director of the Denver Genetic Institute slammed shut effectively eliminating the cacophony of noise which all those incessantly whirling laboratory centrifuges mandated. I elevated my feet to the desk top brushing papers and plastic helix shaped DNA replicas every which way and leaned back in repose. It was my first break of the busy day.

The voice on the other end of the phone was feminine, middle aged and authoritative. Doctor. I’m Ruth Hass, head of the local AAU sports federation. I spoke to a Mr. Hanson about our little problem and he suggested that you would be the perfect one to call.

Well, Mr. Jerald Hanson is my wife’s uncle, so I’m always happy to help, I replied, thinking all the time that our little problem, probably had something to do with a genetic birth defect. I had had numerous inquiries in that regard, over the years, because of my genetic background, and because I was usually, mistakenly, confused with a real doctor, a physician, since I had acquired a Doctorate in genetics and was, therefore also, called doctor. Still, I was happy to be a conduit between the plaintive and someone, professionally, who could actually be of some real service.

Encouraged by my acquiescence, Ms. Hass continued. Doctor, did you play sports in your childhood?, she asked. I, hesitated, slightly taken aback by the direction this questioning was taking. But, still thinking it was probably related to the combination of a genetic defect and participation in sports, I responded.

Well, yes I did, I answered, hesitatingly. In fact I was actually fairly competent in one or two of them. At that statement, I arched my head backwards to stare at the back wall where a Most Valuable Player plaque was hanging with my name on it. In the state’s high school championship game, some twenty years before, I had singlehandedly intercepted two passes and run each of them back for a touchdown. Additionally, I had crashed into the backfield from my defensive corner back position, when the other team was threatening on the goal line, and disrupted the developing lateral end-around play by knocking the ball out of the quarterbacks hand and pouncing on the ball, thereby putting an end to that goal line threat.

Despite my team being the heavy underdog, because of my actions, they were able to keep the game close. Although our team ultimately lost, by the proverbial last minute field goal, I was awarded the MVP plaque. No player, to my knowledge, on the losing team, playing an offensive or the defensive position, either previously or since, had received such an honor.

Ms. Hass continued, And did you play with or against some boys, who, although professing to be your same age, were so much bigger and more physically advanced that they dominated you and the others?

This time I, not only didn’t hesitate, I fairly exploded. Feelings I had been keeping knotted up inside for years, feelings from my grade school days, extemporaneously burst outward. Sure, that Thomas Cortez guy!!, I exclaimed.

He was supposed to be our age, but he was big and fast. He played in our 12 year old and under league, but he looked all of 16 years old. We all suspected that his birth certificate was forged, but our coaches assured us otherwise. We were confused because his parents, brothers and sisters were all wimpy. Tommy’s parents were college professors-short, thin, weak with glasses—real geeks. Even his grandparents were geeks. We did have a few, real bonafide athletes, along the way but they, in fact, did resemble their blue collar parents, big, thick and fast. We finally decided that Tommy must have been mixed up at the hospital, although, we had to admit that his facial features did resembled his mother’s!? I added, And his growth spurt from his 12th to his 14th birthday was something to behold. Whew, I was almost out of breath, but I was feeling more relieved than in a long time, having purged this pent up emotion, after so many years. Refreshed, I finished with a little jocularity by mentioning. This Cortez guy was one of the nicest and friendliest guys you’d ever want to meet, but was one of the meanest you wouldn’t want to meet if he was on the opposite team. I gave a little laugh following that expostulation!

Ms. Hass patiently waited for my soliloquy to finish, even laughing at that last joviality, then continued. Just as in your ‘Tommy Cortez’s’ case, we have recently identified several of our children, whose statue and prowess appear to have accelerated, almost overnight, or at least over the summer. And, like ‘Tommy, their parents are also geeks! She continued, Of course we do have some very large and agile children, whose fathers are also very commanding, and these too are mostly blue collar types. But these geek kids have demonstrated amazing growth seemingly starting after their summer vocation spent at a very exclusive camp in Australia! We can’t put our finger on it. So, we wonder if they may have been tampered with, as with steroids, or growth hormone or even genetic manipulation. She added, Their parents are wealthy, can afford almost anything and, I believe, will do anything to enhance their child’s growth.

Sighing, she continued, Hopefully, maybe it’s not that complicated, and may only represent some kind of weird super food that the kids are given to eat at that particular summer camp they all attend. They relate that they were fed all manner of weird and unusual Australian foods at this exclusive summer camp, that only, these growth accelerated, wealthy children went too. She added, Although, we do have one child who attended the camp and who hasn’t shown any unusual growth. But he is an extremely picky eater, subsisting on eggs, baked chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli only!! I doubt that he ate anything but the basics at that camp.

I, always the geneticist, thought to myself. Maybe that boy just didn’t participate in the genetic manipulations if, in fact, such was the goings on at that camp. But I kept that thought to himself.

She went on, sounding exasperated. Still, it’s really unfair, because these other boys have advanced so far ahead of their peers. They’re winning all the athletic competitions. We’re powerless to do anything about it. The regulations specify age, not size or weight, as the only qualifying factor. So we’re stuck!? Continuing, If these were just isolated instances then we’d try and ignore it, but we have seven more of these ten to twelve year olds going to this specific camp this coming summer, so we’re, understandably, apprehensive. She stopped, letting the facts sink in.

Of course I asked the obvious. Did you check the urine and blood? As you know, Human Growth Hormone is now more plentifully available since they can now manufacture it by gene editing rather than by slaughtering innumerable animals for their pituitary glands. And the FDA has sanctioned its use in children, who suffer from Idiopathic Short Stature. But many others with undersized children, who could afford it, also jumped on the bandwagon. Still, it’s easy to identify by blood tests so as to exclude those children from sports participation!

Yes, we did, surreptitiously, by stopping up the toilets and using Porto-potties for urine collection and even faked a meningitis scare to necessitate blood tests, but nothing inordinate was discovered. The Human Growth Hormone levels were at the upper limits or normal, but not overly elevated. She replied. Then her voice dropped a little in a conspiratorial vein. Their parents seemed to have anticipated our snooping and even seemed to be laughing at us. It was unnerving and almost embarrassing! She continued, We even cornered a couple of those kids and asked them, point blank, if they had received any medication, vitamins or supplements, which could have contributed to their growth acceleration. They appeared truthful and didn’t have a clue. I believe that, even if their parents had forbid them to tell us, these two kids would have spilled the beans!! I believe they really don’t know the cause of their growth spurt.

So, what do you expect me to do? I asked. Please note that I am sympathetic because of this Thomas Cortez thing, but I’m not sure what I can bring to the table. I felt that he had nothing to offer. Good luck!!!

But Ms. Hass was undeterred. She continued, Mr. Hanson also mentioned that you were familiar with Australia and with the Australian Aborigines, and their customs, are you not? With Australia and the aborigines interjected into the conversation, I abruptly jerked my legs off the desk, spilling the few remainder of the DNA replicas on the floor, and sat up straight in the chair. My long legs were cramped under the desk, but I hardly noticed, such was this sudden turn in the conversation.

What has Australia and the Aborigines got to do with this whole scenario? I asked. Talk about really being confused.

Ms. Haas didn’t miss a beat. These children in question attend that Australian summer camp, I mentioned, for ten to sixteen year old males. It’s expensive and exclusive and is located in southern Australia, near or on an Aboriginal reservation. Ms. Haas continued. Mr. Hanson suggested that you and your wife might wish to accompany one of our, hand selected, children, posing as the child’s parents and snoop around for us. She braced herself, none to expectant for the response. It came quickly.

But we are not detectives I countered. I was losing my cool. We don’t know how to snoop as you put it! I paused to calm himself. "My wife and I did spend some time with the Aborigines and did travel a bit seeing Australia, but we are definitely not experts regarding either of those particularities.

Ms. Haas was prepared. She calmly added, But, if Mr. Hanson is correct, that you and your wife are familiar with Australia, the indigenous people and are persons of science and even genetics, you would be perfect. She paused, then added, lowering her voice, almost conspiratorially, For some reason, he even alleged that you and your wife were, actually, quite good, at this, er, snooping, as well as ‘parent pretending’! She didn’t send her tanks in one at a time-she charged ahead with a full frontal assault!

This last salvo did stop me in my train of thought, so to speak. Initially, repulsed, I recanted in my mind. Ms. Haas’s argument was beginning to seem a little enticing. I relaxed, leaned back in my chair, once again elevating my legs upon the desk and continued the conversation. I recalled that my wife, Jennifer, had mentioned, just recently, that we should take a proper honeymoon, given our extensive involvement in research and yes, even having been involved in snooping, and in that ‘parent pretending’ thing, in the early years of our marriage. She’d even suggested, quite moderately, that we might consider a return to Australia, where we fell in love and both deeply enjoyed,

The discussion lasted another twenty minutes. I learned that the summer camp, in question, was named "Weijuab, which is Aborigines for growth spurt; that the camp was located in southern Australia situated on an aboriginal reservation just outside of and below the RED CENTRE; the large desert, occupying a generous portion of central and southern Australia; that the camp runs from Nov. 20th until January 10th, during our winter school break, which in the Southern Hemisphere is summertime. Also she intimated that the world’s hardest catching, gigantic, saltwater blue and black marlin frequent those, adjacent, southern Australian offshore waters, almost exclusively during that time period. Ever since I had hooked that marlin off of Melville Island, in Australian waters, some several years previously, I had become hooked, himself, on fishing. I had taken up fishing, locally, in the Colorado streams, fly casting for rainbow trout and looked forward to doing it every opportunity I could. But, it still paled compared to marlin fishing.

Ms. Hass had some additional bait that she also put on the hook. Firstly, once she learned from Mr. Hanson of my proclivity for marlin fishing, and was told that I spoke of that first experience so fervently, she researched and discovered that a usual, all day marlin fishing trip, out of Port Augusta, Australia, just south of camp Weijuab, often resulted in eleven to twelve marlin strikes and usually one or two marlin catches and releases.

Secondly, Mr. Hanson had informed her that on that particular initial fishing trip, I and my wife Jennifer had first discovered and pledged our undying love to each other. Ms. Hass was prepared to insert that little piece of information in the conversation as the piece’ de’ resistance if needed. She sensed, and rightly so, accordingly, that Marlin fishing had spliced it’s way into my genes and she wasn’t even a geneticist, herself!!

Marlin fishing aside, I was less than sanguine about leaving at that time because the yearly grant applications would be do. But, I did have a fine and capable staff and after all these years, the process proceeded smoothly. I was not, as indispensable, as I once was. I recalled, in addition to my wife’s honeymoon suggestion, that her uncle, the Mr. Hanson in question, along with his wife, had recently offered to take, our two children, Patrick and Sophia with them, along with their own daughter Jenny, to their summer home in Florida this holiday coming.

Jenny, the Hanson’s eight year old daughter, was recovering from Progeria, a misspelled gene disorder, whereby one amino acid in one of the three letter amino acid DNA word sequences was changed. This causes a change in the formation of the particular protein that dictates the configuration of the membrane which surrounds and protects the nucleus of the cell. That mutant change allowed the nucleus to become misshapen and unable to mature normally. Much worse, this abnormality causes the cell to undergo accelerated aging. In essence, the progerian body ages at the rate of seven years for one year of life such that the individual grows old and dies of old age at about ten to thirteen years of age of diseases old people die of such as heart disease or stroke. Progerian children are born looking normal. But, at about two years of age, those physical characteristics of Progeria start to manifest themselves. Their skin begins to become taut and wrinkled; the nose becomes pinched and downward plunging; the teeth and hair fall out; and dwarfism is common. The individual appears and acts like a very old person. It is breathtaking to consider that just this one single-letter mutation, out of a 3 billion letter human genome, is responsible for causing such a dramatically devastating disease. Progeria occurs in about one in three million births. Each time a cell divides, the entire genome has to be copied. But mistakes creep in! None of us is perfect. Other single misspelled gene disorders cause such diseases as Sickle Cell Anemia, Cystic Fibrosis and Huntington’s Chorea. Our clinic is heavily involved in Gene Editing to try and reverse these genetic maladies.

Even such common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer have genetic factors that contribute to their onset, but the influence of each individual genetic risk factor is low. So, these illnesses are likely to occur only with a combination of several genetic factors, along with the appropriate external environmental stimuli and triggers such as smoking, obesity, etc.

Jenny and our adopted son Patrick, who we kidnapped as a baby from the New World Pharmaceutical Company, located in Australia, and who we brought back to America, possessed that same mutant progeria gene, from having been cloned using a surrogate Aboriginal woman. But with the current treatment, develop by my wife, Jennifer and myself, using Patrick as the source of the DNA we needed to study, both children were doing well. Jenny was losing the attributes, so characteristic of Progeria. Patrick, also, do to the medicine, had so far, been spared the development of any of the outward progerian manifestations. The treatment was still imperfect, but therapeutic progress was forthcoming. In fact, that was my wife’s and my main preoccupation-that of preventing the development of and reversing Progeria as well as other misspelled gene disorders. Sophia, our natural child, fortunately, is not afflicted by this or any genetic malady.

The Denver Genetics lab, where I, age thirty-seven, served as Director, was where both I and my wife, Jennifer, age thirty-two, a geneticist also, worked, receives both public and private grants towards our research. The Hansons, Jenny’s parents and owners of a very successful computer software company are one of the labs most beneficent private benefactors.

The conversation concluded with me telling Ms. Hass that I would speak to my wife that very evening and get back to her. Ms. Hass, in turn, reminded me that she would have to have my answer rather promptly as plans and arrangements would have to be made very shortly since the camp was scheduled to start in just two months.

Map of South AustraliaSilhouette of an alien face with large, slanted eyes and a small mouth on a black background, conveying mystery and intrigue.

Chapter II

Camp Weijaub is located about five hours northwest of Adelaide, SA, Australia, the largest city in southern Australia. It resides alongside Lake Gairdner in the Brawler Mountain range where it adjoins the southern portion of the RED CENTRE, the large central desert in the middle of Australia. Lake Gairdner is the fourth largest salt lake in Australia.

It consists of a large two story main building where all of the ceremonies, indoor activities, and dining are conducted. This building also houses the infirmary and the administrative offices, The very large dining room is located in the back on the ground floor. This entire first- floor dining area has an expansive picture window overlooking the back outside area, allowing the diners to view the activities frequently being held there, while still enjoying the air conditioning.

In this back area of the main building is a large open square, a commons of sorts, where a large carved wooden kangaroo stands astride a very circular fire pit. Nights in the desert can become quite cold and a good fire is welcomed. Moderate-sized stones, for sitting, are arranged in concentric circles, five rows deep, around the pit, providing seating for sixty or more people.

Many camp ceremonies and activities, especially in the evening, take place in this area. At home, in the evening, the campers would generally be huddled around their computers or I-phones or watching television. But at camp, sitting around the fire pit, the campers attend lectures, discussions and demonstrations, each night, while toasting marshmallows or roasting wieners. The desert gives up its heat rapidly once the sun goes down and warm snacks alongside the fire are welcomed.

Twice a week, one of the local Aborigines elders will stand next to the fire pit and hold forth to the assembled campers regarding the traditional native legends and myths, which the tribe relies upon to explain nature and man’s existence in it. The Aborigines are considered to be one of the oldest cultures on earth. That’s why Australia is often referred to as the ‘place where time began’. Tales such as: Why the whale spouts; Why the starfish is ragged; Why the crow is black; How the Kangaroos got it’s long tail; Why the camel has a hump; How fire was stolen from the red-crested cockatoo; The kookaburra and the Goolsligool; Mullyougob, the morning star are discussed. In the Aboriginal folklore, Owls are considered to be the carriers of messages. Perhaps that’s where the creator of Harry Potter got the idea to use Owls in her stories as messengers in Harry’s magical kingdom. These fables are entertaining and the campers listen respectfully.

Once a week, the campfire is extinguished and all the lights are turned off. An astronomy professor from the Adelaide University Observatory will have made the three hour journey each way to introduce the campers to the wonders of the desert sky. Numerous telescopes would be set up for them to observe millions of coruscating stars, the planets and the moon that hover over the camp nightly. The heavens over the Southern Hemisphere are considered to be much more exciting than in the Northern Hemisphere, partly because the Southern Hemisphere offers a clear view of the Milky Way’s center. It contains "a vast concentration of stars, nebulae, and other celestial objects, such as the Southern Cross, the two small galaxies that orbit the Milky Way called the Magellanic Clouds and numerous other constellations. It offers a more visually striking and awe-inspiring sky for stargazers. That’s a sight city boys don’t get to see.

The same trip will have been made on other nites by an historian from that same University to discuss the history of Australia’s emergence, initially, from a penal colony to its present state of independence in the commonwealth. It appears that before Australia was settled, America was the proverbial dumping grounds for England’s criminals. But, since our revolution, America was unavailable. England needed another place to send them. Heretofore, since then, it was using prison boats on the Thames. But they were filling up and rotting. So, in 1788, the eleven ships of the First Fleet, arrived in what was to be the settlement of Sydney, named after Lord Sydney, the Home and Colonial Secretary. The fleet disembarked 586 shackled convict men, 192 convict women and thirteen children, together with forty-one of their wives and children. In fact, Adelaide, Australia is the only large costal Australian City not to have been started as a penal colony.

Before Australia was explored it was referred to as terra australis incognita, meaning ‘unknown land of the South’. (it was here that Swift located his brutish ‘country of the Yahoos’ in Gulliver’s Travels)!

Frequently, the Adelaide zoo’s chief zoologist will transverse that same desert to discuss the anatomy and the life styles of the marsupials as well as the difference between the Wallaby and the, more substantial, Kangaroo. Since Australia, believe it or not, has the largest camel population in the world, on one of the visits he would explain the difference between the two hump camel, the Bactrian, and the single hump, Dromedary, and their respective advantages in regard to life in the desert.

On another of the nights, the cooks, diplomatically, would divulge to the campers that those delicious steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs and omelets on the menu, about which the campers rave so much, are actually from camels, kangaroos and from the emus; and that Green Eggs and Ham are not just from Dr. Seuss’s imagination. The Emu’s egg is, in fact, dark green. It is quite large and the equivalent of ten chicken eggs. It is eaten with great relish by Australians, who often add ham to their Emu egg omelet!. So, even though Dr. Theodore Seuss was born in Massachusetts, in the United States, he must have been introduced to the Emu’s green egg in his travels inspiring him to write the book Green Eggs and Ham.

One night is devoted to desert survival. The campers are taught about where to retrieve water, acquire shade, travel effectively and seek help if they are ever lost in that type of environment. One look outside of the camp’s fences makes a willing listener t the words of wisdom being imparted. Should one go off on their own or get separated from the group, the Australian call for help is Cooee. It is typically expressed as a long loud call ending in a shrill rising inflection, of the ee’!Over the dry desert, this call travels for great distances. It is interpreted as meaning come here!Remember, no one has cell phones, and there are no towers.

Since male adolescents, in particular are fond of using slang words and expressions, in their everyday conversations, one night, early on, is dedicated to an introduction of the colorful and plentiful slang expressions used, daily, by the Australians. It seems that Australians do not like to use three-syllable words and therefore condense them down into colorful words of two syllables only. This sophistication is welcomed by the campers, who incorporate it in their subsequent verbal discourse from that time until the camp ends, as well as on the trip home. They exude great glee in doing so!!

For example, native Australians convert:

Australia to ‘Strata’; Cup of coffee to ‘cuppa’; McDonald to ‘Mecca’; ‘Baccy’ for biscuit; ‘Choctaw’ for chocolate; ‘Choctaw baccy’ for chocolate biscuit, ‘devo’ for definite; ‘sumo’ for musician; ‘boner’ for great; ‘bloody oath’ for that’s true; ‘Bull dust’ for rubbish; good athlete is ‘blinder’; loudmouth trouble maker is ‘yobbo’; ‘bloody’ for very; ‘dink um’ for very true; ‘fair go’ for a chance to succeed; ‘going off’ for good fun; ‘good Sonya’ for well done; ‘pig’s ares, for I don’t agree; ‘stuffed’, for I’ll be surprised. ‘Pacey’ for face book; ‘togs’ for swimsuit; ‘fair suck’ for treated fairly; ‘Trekkie’ for breakfast; ‘bloke’ or ‘mate’ for fellow and ‘barbie’ for the barbecue.

An example of such Australian slang in daily conversation might look like this:

So, we mates could stop by the Mecca for a Choctaw baccy wearing our togs on the way to going off where we hope to be stuffed, for dink um!! Maybe, we could access the farce along the way if the Mecca has Wifi.

The campers also learn to sing the chorus to the song ‘Talking like an Aussie"!

"Like hello to us –G’day, goodby for us—Oooroo

When we talk about our kangaroos, we just shorten it to Roo

Mind my place it’s a Ozzie, mosquito is a Mozzie

By Crikey Jones you’ve got it now you’re talking like an Aussie"

Another night is devoted to the kangaroo’s peculiar form of locomotion, a unique use of all four legs and most importantly, in addition, the tail in a pentagonal fashion. Its use of a three legged stance, utilizing the tail and the two lower legs is being studied as a possible prosthesis prototype for humans who are mobility challenged.

Movies are not shown!!

Off to one side of the commons is a modest size building, the rec. room, housing ping pong, pool and Foosball tables. Dart boards hang on the walls. Some few pinball machines are also present. This room is available at nite for those who do not wish to attend the presentations in the commons. Although the acquisition of knowledge is laudable, sometime young men just wish to have fun. Actually, the presentations are very well attended, just not always one hundred percent.

Further back in the middle of the campus, from the fire pit seating, arranged in two consecutive semicircles of twelve buildings each, are the campers’ quarters. Single story duplexes, sixteen in all, which consist of a front porch with 2 entrances, two living rooms, two bedrooms, a small kitchen, each, and two bathrooms. The back doors open into a shared fenced in area for the joey (orphaned juvenile kangaroo youngster) which each four camper household is obliged to take care of, feed and