The Human Genome Volunteer

[jporter]

An interesting aspect of Mr. Ventner's and the Celera Corp's recently
announced achievement of the sequencing of the Human Genome is the small
detail that it is the genome of a single human "volunteer" which has been
sequenced. Presumably, the information is generalizeable to the rest of the
species.

What stands out is the method of study, which clearly is being undertaken
in order to develop new, powerful and lucrative techniques of CONTROL.

But what about the volunteer? This is someone who is not just studying the
system- looking for answers- but also, experiencing it. No matter what
discoveries eventually emerge the knowledge obtained will forever bear the
stamp of this volunteer's individuality, if only as the standard exception,
even as the data base becomes more and more generalized.

As we follow Slothrop to Peenie, and later watch as he scales the ECHELONs
of the Anubis, to succor the package from the bowels of the engine room-
duly noting his horror at the scent of his own sperm mingling with Bianca's
shit- He reminds me of the human genome volunteer, and the Genome Project
in general. His subjective experience is our means of studying the system
of which we are all a part. My guess is that der Springer's next hop will
bring him, package in hand, to the offices of a good publisher.

Slothrop will just have to hope that some enlightened editor will suggest
an honorable discharge.

jody


        "Angelo said there'd be a Package for me?"
        "Quotha! Am I the Evening Coach?" The two rummage about in the
Shadows. "Look ye, I'll be seeing him later, and I'll be sure to ask,-"
        "Just what you said last time," the Dog shaking his head reprovingly."