Divergent Evolution
an excerpt

“47XY, subject is male. Characteristics of affliction include multiple muscle contractures at birth, severe mental retardation, respiratory problems, and kidney malformations. Subject died shortly after reaching the age of two,” Professor Jameson gestured to the karyotype transparency projected on the wall.
“The subject suffers from Edwards Syndrome, trisomy 13, correct?” asked Dr. Allerton.
“That is correct, good work, although the proper term is mosaic trisomy 13. The patient experienced a somatic mutation of the thirteenth chromosome after birth, causing only portions of his body to have the mutation. This correctly explains the subject reaching the age of two, rare for victims of Edwards Syndrome,” Professor Jameson removed the transparency from the overhead and replaced it with another.
At first glance, the karyotype looked normal, a collage of images of human chromosomes, lined up in homologous pairs according to size. Each of the 23 chromosomes had a homologous, or twin, partner, with a grand total of 46 chromosomes. But a closer inspection of the karyotype would reveal that pair 23, the sex chromosomes, was not actually a pair at all, but rather a trio.
“47XXY, subject is also male, suffering from a trisomy of the se—”
“Kleinfelter’s Syndrome,” Allerton interjected. “The subject has a trisomy of the sex chromosomes, an extra ‘X’ chromosome. He would experience infertility, underdeveloped sex organs, and lower testosterone levels.”
“Correct, Dr. Allerton, you’re getting quick at this. This next one, however, is rather intriguing, and I have yet to figure it out myself,” he placed on the overhead another karyotype. The name printed at the bottom read ‘Subject 29934 – Bartlett, Harold.’
“What about it?”
Jameson tilted his head, “Subject is male, age 43, and in the brief time leading up to his death, he experienced rapid growth, an increase in testosterone levels, severe acne covering his back and chest, a lowering in IQ, and severe belligerence.”
Allerton shrugged, “Sounds like 47XYY Syndrome. He had an extra ‘Y’ chromosome, that’s all.”
“That’s what I had assumed too, but when he was karyotyped after death, he was found to be 46XY, totally normal,” Jameson said.
“Could it be a mosaic?”
“Possible, but I would guess extremely unlikely. Mosaicism usually occurs during early fetal development, and the signs would have shown earlier in life.”
“Well the possibility is still open.”
“It is, but the reason why I do not believe it is mosaicism is due to the fact that the changes began occurring days before the subject’s death, an infinitesimally small amount of time in genetics,” explained Jameson.
“Well why do you assume it has anything to do with genetics at all?” Allerton inquired. “Why couldn’t it have its roots in some sort of drug abuse or something of similar nature?”
“There is a reason,” assured Jameson. He placed a new karyotype on the overhead; the name read ‘Subject 39948 – Abbot, Jonathan.’
“Same thing?”
“Same thing,” confirmed Jameson. “And there are more still. Total, there are four reported cases.”
“That doesn’t sound like too many, Professor.”
“True,” he agreed, “But is it odd when they all began experiencing symptoms at nigh exactly the same time?”
Allerton hesitated, “…A little.”
“And that they all lived within ten miles of each other?”
“It could have been some toxin in the water or exposed to air that caused the changes.”
“They all worked at the same facility, too,” Jameson continued.
“Well, Professor, that doesn’t really help your case. Maybe there was some sort of toxin in the building that caused the changes.”
“The company was called ‘Novalife Genomics,’ an American company operating out of a small London suburb. They have recently been experimenting on genetically altering bacteria, adding DNA, changing DNA, and everything in between.”
“They’re a genetics company?” Allerton sat up in his chair.
“One of the world’s leading genomics corporations.”
“You don’t think…”
“I do.”
Allerton pondered the implications of it. It wasn’t possible, was it? What if it was? The ramifications would be unpredictable—and terrible. Allerton stood up and walked over to the wall, studying the karyotype. “What the hell did you guys do to yourselves over there…?”