The Eve Genome Read Online Free Page B

suppose the most intriguing is the blood type. Genetically, her blood type has never been seen before, which explains her body’s refusal of blood products.”
    I sat forward so fast the leather seat squeaked against my jeans. “Is there an explanation?” I asked.
    “Occasionally, we see marked genetic differences such as this in individuals, and it is our job to investigate the anomaly, to determine if it is a genetic variant, a mutation of some kind, or if it is an inherited disease.” Dr. McGill paused. “That is why Analiese’s body has been brought here. For investigation.”
    “What does an investigation entail, exactly?” Mom asked.
    Dr. McGill placed his hands on the file full of papers in front of him, his large, knobby fingers splayed so he was touching almost every page. “Before we get into that, I’d like to ask a few other questions about Analiese’s anatomy.”
                  Mom’s brow furrowed. “Okay?”
                  “Are you aware your daughter had a vestigial rib?” Dr. McGill asked, his froggy gaze levelled on mom.
                  I stared at her, my heart staggering in my chest. All colour drained from her face.
                  “No.” Her voice sounded strange and small, and immediately, I knew something was off. Was mom lying? What on earth would make her lie about something as serious as this?
                  Dr. McGill continued. “We’ve seen vestigial ribs before, but the peculiar thing about Analiese’s case is the rib is at the bottom of the thoracic cage. Highly irregular.”
                  “What does that mean?” Mom asked. Oddly, she no longer looked sad or scared, now she looked irritated. Hostile.
                  “What it means is… your daughter’s genetic makeup is unlike any other we’ve seen before,” Dr. McGill said.
    Another scientist, the one named Dr. Bomer, nodded in agreement. “Her existence will be of much interest to modern genetics around the world. She will be invaluable to our understanding of chromosomal abnormalities, evolutionary biology, modern medicine.” Mom blinked, over and over, as if she was trying to blink away what she was hearing and seeing. “I don’t understand.”
    “This situation is highly irregular. The opportunity for learning from your daughter’s particular genetic makeup is endless, the possibilities for completely altering our understanding of Darwinian evolution too vast to even imagine.” Dr. Bomer smiled, an expression so out of place in the face of my mother’s pain, it was almost unbearable to watch. He continued, “Everything we knew, or thought we knew is about to be challenged, all because of your sister.” The other doctors assembled around the table nodded in agreement.
                  “I don’t know what to say.” My mother’s voice was quiet, like she was performing a stage whisper.
    Another scientist, a sixty-something man who had been introduced as Dr. Halan, spoke in a heavy Irish accent, “Many geneticists have always believed our race was derived from a single decedent, one that lived over two hundred thousand years ago. But up until today, we had no evidence to prove our theory.”
                  Mom stared at the man, her eyes wide as saucers. My body felt mired to the chair. 
                  I finally spoke. “Are you saying… Analiese is...?”
                  Dr. McGill grinned widely, with Dr. Halan and the rest of his colleagues mirroring his expression. Clearly this was something they were proud of. “We believe Analiese is a genetic throwback to this original hominid.”
                  “Oh, my God.” My heart thumped so hard it felt like it was in my throat. “I don’t understand…”
                  Someone cleared their throat. “Actually,” Dr. Bomer said, “We are considering the possibility that the