37
Helena paced up and down the length of the room as Constantine and the others took their seats.
“We did a comparative DNA test between the mummy, a living immortal, and a human,” she said.
“Of course, we confirmed what we already know – that immortal species have two extra base pairs not found throughout the genome, but only in specific genes. These extra pairs determine the species affiliation and the so-called ‘supernatural’ abilities of these creatures. Those nucleotides are absent in humans…”
“Nucleotides are those letters that genes are coded with, right?” Viktor asked.
Constantine shifted in his seat. The head of the table felt just as uncomfortable for him as trying to decipher genetic terminology.
Helena halted behind her husband, forcing him to twist his neck to face her.
“Yes. Each nucleotide contains a nitrogenous base, or letter. It’s like an alphabet, and each person is written in one.
While the human alphabet contains only four letters, the immortal one consists of six.
The mummy is also coded with six, so in that regard, we can deduce nothing has changed.
This is not new information. We’ve known for a while that the DNA structure of immortals pre-1744 and those post-1744 has remained the same. The interesting thing is what follows.”
Constantine tapped the table with his fingers. “Which is?”
Helena smiled. “We discovered the fourth chromosome contains a DNA sequence that is different across all three DNA specimens I compared! Yes, if these differences were seen just in humans, we would accept that they are natural and species-specific… But all three DNA sequences are different. And although the human sequence is significantly different – meaning the order of the letters is completely rearranged – the mummy and the contemporary immortal share a much greater resemblance, with one enormous, essential difference: methylated DNA!”
Constantine sighed. “Explain, Helena.”
“I’m about to, necromancer. The letters are arranged the same way, but some of them have been structurally altered.
If I must compare it, we have the same sentence, but the letters are written differently.
At the end of the day, the gene is active, but it has a different expression, a different activity. ”
“That different activity is what led to the Changes?” Viktor asked.
Helena lifted a palm in the air. “This is where it gets even more interesting. The gene we’re speaking of is known to humans as well. In scientific texts, they call it MORPH4 or the gene of immortality . Of course, they’re only speculating, because humans don’t believe immortality is possible…”
Constantine ran a hand through his hair. “Helena, I’m lost…”
“I’ll explain right away, necromancer. This gene of immortality controls a bunch of other genes, related to the division of cells, cell death and, most importantly, cell regeneration.
When this gene is fully active – in other words, ready for battle – we have normal, speedy regeneration, like we had before 1744.
When some of the nucleotides of the gene are methylated, it is half-active and we have a screwed-up regeneration.
Like we’ve had since 1744. When the gene has a completely different order of nucleotides, the way it is in humans, its activity is very low, which is why humans regenerate so slowly…
“The interesting thing is that aside from affecting the speed of regeneration, this gene has tumour-suppressing properties, so it impedes the development of malignant diseases. Ergo, its altered, lower activity explains the appearance of such diseases within the immortal world. I suspect that the mass spread of such diseases among humans in the last decades is also related. Whatever is affecting us, acts on them as well. It’s just that to us, it’s more prominent. ”
Constantine leaned back in his seat, pondering over the information. “So, you know which gene is responsible for the regeneration problems. And do these results solve those problems?”
“They don’t solve them, but they give us valuable information…”
Constantine clenched his teeth. “Valuable enough to intrigue the entire immortal world?”
“I can’t be certain, but…”
“Valuable enough to spark Presiyan’s interest?”
“Why Presiyan’s?” Helena asked.
Constantine leaned his palms on the table and spoke with an even voice. “You deserve to be kicked off the Council for this.”
The nymph crossed her arms. “Excuse me?”
“You haven’t found squat! Damn it!”
“That’s untrue, necromancer.”
Amelia shifted in the chair to his right. “She has found something. Methylated base pairs are characteristic of epigenetics, which means the regeneration issues are caused by epigenetic changes.”
Constantine squinted at her. “Did you receive that tidbit from above?”
“I received it at the medical university from which I recently graduated.”
Helena grinned. “You must have paid attention in genetics class, because you are correct.”
Constantine, on the other hand, still didn’t understand what could be done with this information. “Do explain in further detail, ladies who are testing my already strained nerves.”
“Epigenetic changes mean this is not a spontaneous mutation. It is not a reverse evolution of the immortal species. Something is causing it. An external factor,” Helena said.
“What external factor?”
“Water, air, sun…”
“In theory, it could be anything!” Alex exclaimed with inexplicable enthusiasm.
Constantine frowned as they continued to enthuse over a revelation that didn’t help him at all. However, it did shed some light on the matter. Someone knew too much about the genetic changes and had managed to counteract them.
He had no idea who that someone was.
The genetic changes were caused by the outside world.
But he didn’t know exactly how.
If he couldn’t use the information from the genetic tests to free Mikhail, what could he do with it?
He should do something with it, right? Anything at all. Mikhail hadn’t made him the head of the Council just to give him a better vantage point of the table.