Jeffrey Anderson, MD Second Genesis

Second Genesis

Jeffrey Anderson, MD

Jove, Aug 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0515141984

Field biologist Jamie Kendrick is in Amazonia, Brazil in the middle of the rain forest conducting research when one of her colleagues informs her that a fenced compound is nearby. Curious, she visits the site and manages to get inside where she sees a chimp wearing a collar staring back until he writes on the ground "Who am I"? Excited and startled, she guesses that Lula DaSilva Wildlife Preservation and Brainstem Therapeutic Research Lab has done some stem cell engineering using human DNA in chimps.

The project director Dr. Nakamura hires Jamie. She conducts tests that reveal the chimp's brain resembles that of a human; though it cannot speak it can communicate and proves it is at least as smart as a human is. The chimp understands what anesthesia and a biopsy are after overhearing the scientists discuss it about him. The chimp goes bananas killing three of its creators and fleeing into the jungle. Jamie and a few others try to track down the runaway using radio identification technology, but remain ignorant to the true threat of the brilliant beast.

Dr. Jeffrey Anderson digs into the ethical "Dr. Frankenstein" question of how far scientists should go in this case with stem cell research before they cross the line. There is plenty of action in this exciting yet chilling thriller especially the incredible vivid chase scenes in the jungle. Whereas Dr. Anderson raises the morality spectrum, he cleverly leaves it to the audience to decide right from wrong in a strong science fiction tale that sounds more like tomorrow's science.

Harriet Klausner