Chapter 3
To add the length of a palm to Caxin’s already taller-than-average height, Gia had identified and manipulated more than 1,000 gene variants that directly affected the cartilage in growth plates. Caxin also tried to improve her daughter’s eyesight, but Gia’s calculations showed the procedure proved excessively complex. The genes responsible for vision had intricate, interdependent interactions with other peripheral functions in the nervous system. However, altering genes regulating joints and skin was relatively safe. Hence, Caxin had meticulously designed her daughter's connective tissues to optimally distribute pressure and absorb mechanical forces.
The daughter's skin was also enhanced for elasticity and hydration, calibrated to minimize collagen degradation. Furthermore, to induce voluminous and thick hair, the scientist mother edited the genes responsible for hair growth. Because the genetic pathways for hair and heart muscle were inextricably linked, Caxin’s experiment carried a substantial risk of cardiac complications. It was a risky intellectual game with life at stake, but Caxin took it upon herself to roll the dice of life.
Caxin’s heart palpitated as she considered the future. The genetically engineered baby was going to be everything a mother could possibly want in a child, at least physically. However, Caxin's ambition extended far beyond appearance. She wanted a child with exceptional intelligence and aptitude, but not many things related to the brain could be engineered. The intricate inner workings of the most complex human organ were still buried deep inside the impregnable vault, rendering even the latest genetic engineering techniques ineffective. To overcome this challenge, Caxin had cast her probabilistic net far and wide, soliciting genetic matches from a diverse range of candidates with extreme intelligence without heritable illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
the inspiration behind this text
Dr. Loraine Caxin’s research in genetic engineering is based on the remarkable work of the three scientists:
