When It’s No Longer Science Fiction - A Peek Behind The Double Helix - Guest Post by Jade Kerrion
Hi everyone! It's day 2 of the Blogger Book Fair and today I have a fascinating guest post about bioengineering by author, Jade Kerrion that some might find eye-opening. This is why I love science fiction. It makes you think. It makes you wonder about the future. If I had my way, I would genetically engineer a human with 6 arms, 4 legs and 3 penises. Why you ask? Why the heck not? Anyway, read on.
For the past several years, our attention has been consumed by faltering economies, unstable governments, an epidemic of bullying, and an explosion of social media. In the meantime, largely ignored by mainstream media, the genetic revolution marches on quietly and inexorably.
His genetic code sourced from the best
that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara
Itani, a mercenary, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the
chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his
humanity.
Download it or you'll get herpes. I warned you!
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When it’s no longer science
fiction - A peek behind the Double Helix
by Jade Kerrion
For the past several years, our attention has been consumed by faltering economies, unstable governments, an epidemic of bullying, and an explosion of social media. In the meantime, largely ignored by mainstream media, the genetic revolution marches on quietly and inexorably.
Let’s test your knowledge of bioengineering. Which of
the following is true?
1. We used genetic engineering to create hybrid creatures, like the goat-sheep, and the camel-llama
2. We used genetic engineering to transfer bioluminescent genes from coral and deep-sea jellyfish to create glow-in-the-dark mice, cats, dogs, pigs, and monkeys
3. We cloned animals, including sheep, dogs, and horses
4. We used genetic engineering to create animals that excrete pharmaceutical products in their milk and other bodily fluids
5. We used genetic engineering to preserve endangered species, creating animals that possess the nuclear DNA of the endangered species, and the mitochondrial DNA of the host species…in effect, a genetic hybrid
6. We created bug-bots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of insects, and we can now control their movements, including flight
7. We created organic robots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of rats, and we can now control what they do
8. We wired a monkey to control a third artificial arm entirely through its brain wave
9. We genetically engineered rats with pliable skin in order to grow human organs (e.g., ear) under their skin for eventual transplant to a human
10. We used organic computer chips made out of rat neurons to control a flight simulator
11. We isolated a brain of a lamprey eel and placed it in a nutrient medium, surrounded by electrodes. The living, intact brain controls a machine that moves toward the light (in much the same way a lamprey eel moves toward the light)
12. We used a DNA synthesizer to create an artificial organic cell. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The computer is its parent
1. We used genetic engineering to create hybrid creatures, like the goat-sheep, and the camel-llama
2. We used genetic engineering to transfer bioluminescent genes from coral and deep-sea jellyfish to create glow-in-the-dark mice, cats, dogs, pigs, and monkeys
3. We cloned animals, including sheep, dogs, and horses
4. We used genetic engineering to create animals that excrete pharmaceutical products in their milk and other bodily fluids
5. We used genetic engineering to preserve endangered species, creating animals that possess the nuclear DNA of the endangered species, and the mitochondrial DNA of the host species…in effect, a genetic hybrid
6. We created bug-bots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of insects, and we can now control their movements, including flight
7. We created organic robots by implanting wires in the central nervous system of rats, and we can now control what they do
8. We wired a monkey to control a third artificial arm entirely through its brain wave
9. We genetically engineered rats with pliable skin in order to grow human organs (e.g., ear) under their skin for eventual transplant to a human
10. We used organic computer chips made out of rat neurons to control a flight simulator
11. We isolated a brain of a lamprey eel and placed it in a nutrient medium, surrounded by electrodes. The living, intact brain controls a machine that moves toward the light (in much the same way a lamprey eel moves toward the light)
12. We used a DNA synthesizer to create an artificial organic cell. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The computer is its parent
If you answered
“Yes” to all of these, you are right. All of these are true. Science
fiction is now science fact. Today, we possess an unprecedented control over
bioengineering, an area that remains largely unregulated by governments. Our scientific advances raise many
ethical questions, such as “Is it right to control the autonomy of another
creature, even if it’s just a rat?” Other more pragmatic questions focus on
timing, “When will we start applying directed evolution (i.e. design) to humans?”
I majored in
Biology and Philosophy at the Johns Hopkins University, and the philosophical
implications of genetic engineering naturally combined my two interests. I
started by asking myself, “What would the world look like to the perfect,
lab-created human being?” And then, I wondered, “How would the world change for
the people whose genetic templates were used to create the perfect human
being?” The Double Helix series sets
out to answer both those questions from the point-of-view of Danyael Sabre, an
alpha empath whose genetic code was used as the physical template for the
perfect human being.
In the world of
the Double Helix, directed evolution
has become the norm, but is accessible only to those with financial resources.
Historical personalities are reincarnated as clones. Genetically optimized in vitros
abound, and they tend to succeed at the expense of normal humans who struggle
to keep up. Nevertheless, normal humans still form the political majority, and
thus, the world of the Double Helix
is deeply stratified by genetics, wealth, and politics. Into this already chaotic
mix, I added mutants and their dangerous variants of psychic powers, and
finally Galahad, the lab-created, perfect human being.
The story explodes
into a “highly-enjoyable,
brainy guilty pleasure of a novel: a perfect mixture of non-stop action,
gripping plot, thought-provoking philosophy, and beautiful visuals.” Set in Earth’s near-contemporary future and
frequently compared to X-Men, Heroes, and Alphas, the Double Helix series is highly accessible, even for non-science
fiction readers.
I invite you to
check out a world that is closer to science fact than science fiction. Welcome
to the Double Helix.
Author Bio:
Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in
her award-winning Double Helix
series. Perfection Unleashed and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon,
have been described as “a breakout piece of science fiction” and drawn
rave reviews for their originality and vision. Her latest novel, When the Silence Ends, is a Young Adult
spinoff the Double Helix series. She is also the author of Earth-Sim, a whimsical and compelling view of Earth’s
history through the eyes of the two students assigned to manage our planet.
About The Double
Helix series:
Perfection cannot be unleashed without
repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.
An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and
coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He
wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and
solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical
template.
Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face.
One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.
The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and
lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban
fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster
ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic
Revolution.
Social media and buy links:
Perfection
Unleashed: Amazon / Apple iTunes / Barnes
& Noble
/ Smashwords
Perfect Betrayal: Amazon / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords
Perfect
Weapon: Amazon / Apple iTunes / Barnes
& Noble
/ Smashwords
When the Silence Ends: Amazon / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords
Earth-Sim: Amazon / Apple iTunes
/ Barnes & Noble / Smashwords
Tuan says: Thanks Jade! Now I definitely want to be a bestselling author so I can use all the royalties to engineer a whole army of Clint Howards to terrorize the world into submission. I will then benevolently rule the planet.
Come check out The Blogger Book Fair today!
Tuan says: Thanks Jade! Now I definitely want to be a bestselling author so I can use all the royalties to engineer a whole army of Clint Howards to terrorize the world into submission. I will then benevolently rule the planet.
Come check out The Blogger Book Fair today!
FREE
My short story, The Oldest Man In The Universe is FREE to download on Amazon right now! Go on! Download it now! If you don't, you'll get herpes!!!!! Hurry!Download it or you'll get herpes. I warned you!
Thanks for reading!
Feel free to follow me on Twitter: Follow @Tuan_Ho444
If you enjoyed reading this, please subscribe to this blog in the top left hand corner.
Until next time, something wonderful awaits!
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When It’s No Longer Science Fiction - A Peek Behind The Double Helix - Guest Post by Jade Kerrion
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