Free Ancestor by Scott Sigler

program statistically analyzes genomes based on the probable function of each gene sequence. The computer works with our digitized ancestor genome, predicting final form and function, then makes changes, predicts again, and measures probability for desired traits. It’s just like evolution, only in reverse and a million times faster than nature. We create the creature in the computer, one nucleotide at a time. Since it is created from scratch, we know—
for certain—
that it’s free of any viral contamination.”
    The Chinese man spoke. “But that animal on the screen, it is too small. You could not put its heart in me.”
    “Correct,” Danté said. “But that animal on the screen was created only
in silica
, only on the computer, to give us a baseline. We’ve already done that. From there, the computer added specific virtual genes coding for size and human organ compatibility. Our first living generation won’t be perfect, but we can analyze the
phenotype—
the size of the animal and what it looks like—against the
genotype—
the actual DNA coding. Once we have that, we keep modifying the genome until the animal’s organs are ideally suited for human transplantation.”
    The mop-haired man sat back down. “But if you have all this technology, why not just grow the organs individually?”
    “Some companies are working on just that solution, but it’s not yet possible. And when it is possible, growing an individual organ will require an expensive lab or manufacturing center. Short answer, the cost per organ would be astronomical. Genada’s ancestors, on the other hand, will be herd animals. Most importantly,
they will be able to breed
. All we have to dois put them out to pasture and feed them. Organ demand grows? We simply raise more animals.”
    “What about PETA,” the woman asked. “And what about the Animal Liberation Front? They’ve been targeting xenotransplantation research.”
    “We think we have the competitive advantage there as well,” Danté said. “The ancestors do not occur in nature. We
made
them, down to the last strands of DNA. We will even use that fact to insist other companies abandon research on pigs and primates. If Genada has already solved the problem, there is no longer a need for that potentially dangerous research.”
    The software magnate laughed. “You want a monopoly. A monopoly on human life.”
    Danté nodded. “Lady and gentlemen, nothing sells like life itself. When we succeed, we will be the only vendor. We will be able to charge whatever the market will bear. For the millions of people not quite ready for death, the market would bear quite a lot.”
    Within an hour, all five had left, and all five had given the same decision:
yes
. That gave Genada enough capital for at least one more year.
    Magnus would be so pleased.

NOVEMBER 8: DOT-DOT-DOT …
    THE WRIST WATCH BUZZED. It wasn’t an alarm buzz, because for alarms, the watch beeped. The buzz only meant one thing.
    Contact.
    The buzz was a five-minute warning, a notice to go somewhere, be alone before the full message came in. There was no one else in the room. The five minutes passed very slowly.
    A tiny chip in the watch picked up certain heavily encrypted satellite signals. The chip decoded those signals, buzzing out the translated message in the simple dots and dashes of Morse code.

    After all this time, the command to act. How odd, when the project was so close to completion, close to extending life for millions of people. No, not
when
… the correct word was
if
. There was no guarantee they would ever overcome the immune response.
    And besides, who gave a fuck? Someone would figure this out eventually. As long as Rhumkorrf didn’t get the credit, it would all work itself out.
    It would be dangerous, true, but the plan was already made and it wasn’t that difficult. Quietly take out the transportation and communication to completely isolate the project. Then, destroy the data, both the liveset and the