Interlude W

  Ume?, Sweden, Erd simulation

  Year 2012 of the Current Era (local time)

  In a lab for molecular medicine, a research team is watching a representation of a DNA sequence on a computer screen. The team is attempting to use a certain protein to make cuts in the DNA sequence, hoping that this procedure will eventually serve as a powerful gene editing tool. They have tried to get this to work several times, but this time they manage to cut the string exactly where they intended. The room erupts in expressions of amazement and declarations of victory. When the screen displays the full DNA string, no one notices that the order of the individual nucleotides has been rearranged. Should one interpret this string of nucleotides as a quaternary number system and proceed to turn the numbers into letters according to local coding standards for computerized information, the following message would appear: “Your presumptions are not incorrect. What sort of collaboration do you foresee?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.