by John Akers
“But to your question, you can’t just stick raw iPS cells back into an organism, because this eventually results in the development of nasty tumors called teratomas. You first have to differentiate the iPS cells into the kind of cells you want in a petri dish culture, then inject the differentiated cell exactly where the cells they need to replace are located.”
“You figured how to do that for…every type of cell in the body?” asked Pax.
Well, first you have to figure out the much bigger problem of arresting the aging process,” said Cevis.
“Oh, yeah.” Feeling out of his depth, Pax sheepishly took another sip of his drink.
“Fortunately,” continued Cevis, “one of the primary causes of cellular aging is the same across every type of cell in our bodies. Every mammalian cell contains small segments of DNA called telomeres that appear at the end of every chromosome, and make up 5 to 15 percent of the overall length of the chromosome. Many of the cells in our bodies replicate themselves repeatedly over the course of our lifetimes, but every time a cell replicates, a tiny portion of the telomere is lost. Eventually, a telomere gets short enough that the cell loses its ability to replicate, and it dies.”
“And if that happens to enough of the cells in the body, the person dies?” Pax asked. “Of ‘old age?’ as it were?”
“It’s more complicated than that but, yes, telomere shortening is a consistent aspect of cellular aging across all the cells in our body.”
“So how do you keep them from becoming shorter?”
“Studies of negligibly senescent animals have shown their cells contain a protein called telomerase that prevents telomeres from becoming shorter when a cell replicates. By adding transcription factors that increase the production of telomerase in mammals, we can stop telomeres from becoming shorter when the cell replicates.”
“Wait,” said Pax. “What does ‘negligibly senescent’ mean?”
“It means that as an animal ages, its mortality rate doesn’t increase,” said Cevis. “For most animals, their chances of dying increase with age. But for a handful of animals, such as tortoises, jellyfish, and lobsters, the elderly are no more likely to die than the young.”
“So, you must have found a way to increase the production of telomerase in mammals and prevent telomere shortening?”
Cevis nodded.
“So, is that it?”
“No. Unfortunately, most differentiated cells also have their own unique aging factors that need to be neutralized through transcription. Until now, there hasn’t been a complete record of every unique aging factor and how to control for it. But now there is. That’s been the real objective of the work done at Gen6 for the past two decades, although no one knew it but me. It’s why the research I’ve had people conduct there has involved so many different parts of the body and so many obscure diseases. What I was really doing was gathering information on the aging factors for every cell in the human body. And for things I couldn’t find a sufficient rationale to study at Gen6, or that might have brought attention to my true work, I ran experiments here in my home lab.”
All Pax could only think of to say was, “Incredible.”
“There were also some significant logistical problem I had to solve,” Cevis continued. “For one, the yield rate for successfully converting existing differentiated cells into iPS cells had previously been stuck in the rather abysmal neighborhood of one to two percent. But over the years, the processes I’ve developed have improved the yield rate to more than 50 percent. I can now cultivate all the iPS cells needed for a whole-body procedure such as this in a month instead of years.
“Additionally, the Yamanaka method still sometimes leads to the formation of teratomas in lab animals. I’ve developed a different approach that doesn’t use viruses and completely avoids the creation of cancerous tumors.”
“Wow! What are you doing differently?”
“No offense, but explaining that would entail technical details I’m quite certain you wouldn’t understand.”
“Gee, and I was doing so well at pretending I understood what you’ve been saying so far,” said Pax.
Cevis laughed and clapped Pax on the back. Pax sipped his drink and pondered what Cevis had said. After a bit he asked, “But how on earth do you know this will work? To replace every cell in the body with specialized anti-aging programming…how can you be sure there won’t be any negative long-term effects?”
Cevis’s mouth tightened. Pax realized that in all the years he’d known Cevis, he’d never once challenged him about the validity of any of the work he’d done.
“It’s very complicated, of course, but not impossible,” Cevis said. “As I said, I have sufficient proof that my methodology works. There are many animals, insects, and worms, that have far shorter lifespans than ours. Some of them, like the roundworm C. Elegans, for example, live for only a couple of weeks. But with my technique, I’ve kept several specimens alive for over a year.”
Pax was stunned. “Twenty lifetimes.”
Cevis nodded.
“But a worm is a very simple organism,” Pax persisted. “Don’t you need to test it on rats or something first?”
Cevis’ smile vanished. “Of course I’ve tested it on rats!” he snapped. “Rabbits and monkeys too. But I can’t sit around and wait to see if they in fact live multiple lifetimes. I’d be dead myself before the study was completed.”
Cevis looked down at the porch floor, and Pax could tell he was making a concerted effort to keep his composure. After a moment, he continued.
“This week, I compared tissue samples from all the animal subjects to baseline samples I took a year ago, before starting treatment with them. Normally, there would be a decrease in telomere length of approximately 10 to 15 percent over that length of time. But the telomeres and all the other unique aging factors are 99.999 percent identical. Statistically speaking, such a low rate of change over such a long of a period means the probability of its being due to chance alone is less than one percent. That’s why I’m confident this will work on humans as well.”
Pax stood transfixed, unable to think of anything to say.
“Certainly, minor adjustments will be needed along the way,” Cevis continued. “But I’m certain these can be detected and addressed through periodic biopsies.”
Pax suddenly realized where Cevis was heading, and he jumped back from the rail.
“You’ve decided to begin human trials!” he exclaimed.
“Aren’t you going to ask me with who?”
Pax felt all the color drain out of his face. “You.”
“And?”
Pax’s eyes grew wide. “Muh…me?”
“Yes. If you’ll join me.”
Pax’s mouth fell open in astonishment. He fumbled for a reply.
“I, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say ‘yes’ you idiot! Say ‘yes!’”
Pax’s mind reeled. His thoughts jumped to an old science-fiction movie he had seen several times when he was a boy.
“But I thought there could be only one. And I don’t even own a sword."
Cevis roared with laughter, and he pounded Pax on his back. “No need to worry, Oreste, this isn’t Highlander! This is the real thing.”
Pax looked back over the nearly dark mountainside. “Shouldn’t we at least wait until after the first phase of clinical trials, once you’re very confident there won’t be any side effects or unintended consequences?”
Cevis stiffened. “Oreste, this isn’t going to be a part of any clinical trial.”
Pax lurched off the railing. “What do you mean?”
Cevis’ face was now barely visible in the fading light.
“What I mean is, no one else is going to know about this but you and me. For a long, long time.”
Pax looked at him, aghast. “Cevis! You can’t be serious! What about the need for the rest of the world to know about a discovery of this magnitude? Plus, you’d be a shoe-in for the Nobel Prize!”
Cevis leaned away from Pax and wrinkled his nose as if he’d just smelled an open sewer. “Are you serious? Share this with the rest of the world? I can’t believe you would suggest that. I thought you were smart enough that it would be obvious to you this must be kept a secret.”
Pax stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Humanity isn’t ready for this Oreste. It’s not even close. The rest of the world isn’t like us. They can’t handle the responsibility that comes with knowledge like this. In fact, the people least qualified to possess such knowledge, or even the product of it, are the ones who would do anything to possess it.” Cevis’s pale eyes locked onto Pax’s with an intensity that made Pax uncomfortable. “No. This must remain our secret, most likely for a very, very long time.”
He turned and leaned back against the railing. “As far as the Nobel Prize goes, I could care less about it. What I’ve done is so far beyond the kind of work that award recognizes, it would be like receiving a gold star in kindergarten.”
Through the haze of his astonishment, Pax considered what it must be like to have a cognitive model of the world in which winning a Nobel Prize was just a distraction to the real work at hand.
“I’m not saying I disagree with you,” Pax asserted. “I just assumed you were following standard research protocol. It didn’t occur to me that you were thinking so far outside the box.”
Cevis’ expression softened.
“I forget I’ve been living and breathing all of this for most of my life, while you’ve had only a few minutes to absorb it. He took a sip of his drink. “I must sound like Dr. Frankenstein.”
“Not until a hundred years from now when I hear you say, ‘I’m still alive!’” said Pax.
Cevis snorted so hard he spit his scotch over the railing. Pax laughed at Cevis as Cevis unleashed a stream of curses, as he cleaned himself up with his napkin. “Dammit, Oreste! That was probably 50 dollars of scotch!”
Pax gave Cevis time to compose himself, then asked, “So, what’s involved in this procedure of yours?”
“Shots, unfortunately. Lots and lots of shots,” said Cevis. “Some with needles longer than a cigar. Plus several minor surgeries, but nothing a standard AutoDoc can’t manage. Oh, and some drinks that will make you feel worse than either the shots or the surgeries.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“Sorry. The elixir of life doesn’t come in a chewable, cherry tablet form yet.”
“How long will it all take?”
“The initial sequence will take 9 to 12 months. We’ll start with a biopsy of every cell type in our bodies, to establish a baseline and to cultivate the first round of iPS cells with the necessary antiaging factors programmed into them. Then we’ll go through a complete cellular replacement cycle, which will take the better part of a year. Afterward, we’ll do periodic biopsies, staggered for different parts of the body, to make sure all cells are functioning properly. If any complications should ever arise, we’ll have the original biopsy templates to fall back on.”
“A year to eternity,” said Pax. “Wasn’t that a movie?”
Cevis laughed again. “That’s why I need you on this journey with me, Oreste. You have a way of seeing things that’s so refreshing, so invigorating. I really can’t imagine…” Cevis paused for a moment. “I really can’t imagine living without it.” He looked at Pax, who was by now staring off into the distance at nothing in particular.
“Oreste, are you even hearing what I’m telling you?” said Cevis sharply. “I’ve discovered the secret to eternal life! The wellspring of never-ending existence! Kings and queens throughout history would have sacrificed their kingdoms to possess such a gift, but you’re acting like you just ate a bad dinner.”
“Sorry, Cevis. I guess, despite how well I know you, I’m having trouble believing what you’re telling me.”
Cevis stood up, threw his arms out wide, and shouted, “Believe it! Believe it!” The sound of his voice echoed once more down the mountainside. Then, in a regular voice he said, “I’m going on an adventure no man has ever taken before, and I’m taking you with me!”
Pax’s thoughts careened back and forth between his unassailable belief in Cevis’s genius, and his even greater certainty that what he was saying was impossible. Then he began to imagine the things he could accomplish if he had unlimited time. What it would be like to live even two or three lifetimes instead of just one. To be one of the pioneers of immortality. The thought made him feel woozy, although he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t the scotch beginning to take effect.
“If what you are saying is true, I don’t know how to thank you enough. For including me.”
Cevis looked over at Pax. His face was mostly obscured by the near-dark but Pax could see he was smiling at him.
“You’re my oldest friend, Oreste. My only true friend. When I realized I might really be able to solve this, you were the only person I wanted to join me. Who else is more deserving? You’ve transformed the world with the Univiz, and now you may have discovered a new frontier of human cognition. Of course you deserve to be included!”
Cevis looked out at the sky once more. “We’re going to change the world, Oreste, you and I. We’re going to chart a new course for humanity, and we’re going to be there to see it happen.”
Pax suddenly shuddered, and he realized the evening air had grown chilly and damp. Cevis clapped a hand on Pax’s shoulder and said, “Come on, it’s almost dark. Let’s continue this inside.”
Chapter 19
Friday, March 16, 7:51 PM PT
Los Altos Police Department Incident Report
Case No.: 2035-02716255
Location: 2327 CUESTA ABAJO CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024
Incident Type: NETWORK HACKING, HARASSMENT
Date and Time Reported: 8/16/20xx 8:13 PM
Dispatch Date and Time: 8/16/20xx 8:25 PM
Bias/Motivation: NONE
Victim/Missing 01 (V01) Name (Last, First): BHATTERJEE, CHANDRA
Last Known Address: 2327 CUESTA ABAJO CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024
D.O.B. (V01): 04/20/19xx
Age (V01): 39
Race (V01): INDIAN
Sex (V01): FEMALE
Eyes (V01): BROWN
Hair (V01): BROWN
Height (V01): 5’ 3”
Weight (V01): 129 LBS.
Univiz ID (V01): 1647384967
Victim/Missing 02 (V02) Name (Last, First): BHATTERJEE, RAJESH
Last Known Address: 2327 CUESTA ABAJO CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024
D.O.B. (V02): 05/12/19xx
Age (V02): 42
Race (V02): INDIAN
Sex (V02): MALE
Eyes (V02): BROWN
Hair (V02): BROWN
Height (V02): 5’ 9”
Weight (V02): 176 LBS.
Univiz ID (V02): 1748383947
Victim/Missing 03 (V03) Name (Last, First): SANCHEZ, MARIANNE
Last Known Address: 2341 CUESTA ABAJO CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024
D.O.B. (V01): 05/12/19xx
Age (V01): 41
Race (V01): CAUCASIAN
Sex (V01): FEMALE
Eyes (V01): BROWN
Hair (V01): BROWN
Height (V01): 5’ 5”
Weight (V01): 148 LBS.
Univiz ID (V01): 1978494843
Victim/Missing 04 (V04) Name (Last, First): SANCHEZ, MIGUEL
Last Known Address: 2341 CUESTA ABAJO CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024
D.O.B. (V02): 11/24/19xx
Age (V02): 45
Race (V02): HISPANIC
Sex (V02): MALE
Eyes (V02): BROWN
Hair (V02): BROWN
Height (V02): 5’ 11”
Weight (V02): 210 LBS.
Univiz ID (V02): 1875031692
Suspect 1 (S01) (Last, First): NONE
Suspect Status: N/A OR UNKNOWN
Witness 1 (W01) Name (Last, First): NONE
Related Report(s): 2035-02716248, 2035-02716254
Incident Description:
THE EXPLOSION TURNED OUT TO BE CAUSED BY OVER-PRESSURIZATION OF THE HOT WATER HEATER IN THE GARAGE. THE WALL SEPARATING THE GARAGE FROM THE FOYER WAS DESTROYED, AS WAS THE WALL SEPARATING THE GARAGE FROM A BEDROOM IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. ALL FOUR PEOPLE WERE KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BUT NO ONE SUFFERED ANYTHING MORE THAN MINOR MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES.
AFTERWARD ALL FOUR OF THEM WENT INTO THE FRONT YARD. AT THIS POINT MR. BHATTERJEE BECAME AGITATED AND BLAMED THE SANCHEZES FOR THE EXPLOSION. WHEN THEY ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN, HE SAID THE SANCHEZES HAD BEEN TARGETED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN ATTACKING MR. CUNNINGHAM, AND THE EXPLOSION HAD BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO HURT THE SANCHEZES. MR. BHATTERJEE YELLED AT THE SANCHEZES TO GET OFF OF HIS PROPERTY AND BEGAN STRIKING MR. SANCHEZ WITH HIS FISTS. NEIGHBORS PULLED THEM APART AND MR. AND MRS. SANCHEZ RETURNED TO THEIR HOME.
REPORTING OFFICER REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FROM COUNTY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR A COMPUTER FORENSICS ANALYST TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF REMOTE ASSAULT AND BATTERY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.
Reporting Officer Name (Last, First): MARTINEZ, RICARDO