Read Online The Immortality Factor by Ben Bova - Free Book Online

have we been able to understand what causes disease and genetic defects? If we failed to use this knowledge we would be spitting in God’s face, telling God that we reject the wisdom he has granted us.”
    The hearing chamber was absolutely silent. Even Rosen, the examiner, stood immobile, his coal-black eyes staring at Arthur.
    Graves pushed his bifocals up to the bridge of his nose. “Are you finished, Dr. Marshak?”
    â€œThat’s all I’ve got to say,” Arthur said. He turned to the examiner. “What’s your next question?”
    The audience stirred as if coming out of a trance. Rosen made a polite little cough behind the back of his hand, then took a few steps toward the table where Arthur sat.
    â€œYou worked with your brother on this idea of regenerating organs?” the examiner asked.
    â€œAs I told you, Dr. Rosen,” Arthur said with a great show of patience, “at first we were interested only in regenerating spinal cord nerve tissue. We were thinking in terms of helping paraplegics.”
    â€œAnd you worked with your brother.”
    â€œI talked out the basic idea with my brother. Until he had to go to South America or Africa or one of those locations.”
    Rosen walked back to his place at the end of the judges’ table and consulted the notebook computer he had set up there. Arthur glanced sideways at Jesse. He was leaning back in his chair, at his ease, apparently enjoying the show so far.
    â€œDr. Marshak,” Rosen called, “when your brother left the country for Eritrea”—he put a slight emphasis on the country’s name, as if he were not so subtly reminding Arthur of something he should have remembered for himself—“had you thought of extending your work on nerve regeneration to the more general purpose of organ regrowth?”
    Arthur searched his memory briefly. “We had talked about it, I think. But no, as far as I can recall, we were still thinking strictly in terms of spinal neuron regeneration back then.”
    â€œHad you discussed the need for using stem cells in your research?”
    â€œYes,” said Arthur without hesitation. “Adult stem cells. We never even considered using fetal cells.”
    â€œNever?”
    â€œAs it turned out,” Arthur said, smiling, “we found a way to go ahead without using even adult stem cells.”
    Rosen nodded somberly. “I see. And what about cloning?”
    â€œWe considered therapeutic cloning, yes. At that time we thought we could make more of the stem cells we might need by cloning those we obtained from volunteers.”
    â€œMurderer!” someone said in a stage whisper, loud enough for everyone to hear. Graves glared at the audience but said nothing.
    â€œIf we had needed fetal stem cells, which we didn’t,” Arthur said, “we would have obtained the fetuses from a reproductive clinic. They were going to be destroyed anyway. They were no longer wanted. We would be able to put them to good use.”
    Rosen seemed to take a breath. Then he said, “This is not the proper moment to discuss the ethics of fetal tissue research.”
    â€œI agree completely,” said Arthur.
    â€œSo, before your brother went to Eritrea, the two of you were thinking strictly in terms of spinal neuron regeneration.”
    â€œStrictly of spinal neuron regeneration, yes.”
    â€œYou’re certain?”
    â€œNo, I’m not certain. And I don’t see what difference it makes. We’re not here to establish precedence, are we?”
    The judge on Graves’s left said, “That is for the patent office to worry about.”
    Rosen nodded as if in agreement. He advanced toward Arthur again and asked, “This work that you and your brother did—how was it financed?”
    â€œOut of my discretionary funds. As director of Grenford Laboratory, I had a small fund available for research that’s too new to have