Crowdsharing research with the global scientific community was a longstanding practice of NASA's. When NASA received the Martian genotype from the Habitat, one of its first actions was to place the data files on a secure server so pre-screened research organizations around the world could download them. Because of the work Telomics had contributed to studying radiation exposure on astronauts, they were among that rarified group. Their initial findings were that the Martian genome closely resembled ours—something not entirely unanticipated, given their similar appearance to Earthlings.
That became the news. Martians and humans are alike.
Iosefa Leota had not contributed any research to the NASA radiation studies; his field focused on the company’s primary mission: longevity. He had spent the last year studying the geographic distribution of a particular single-nucleotide polymorphism. That polymorphism served as a marker for a genetic variation that influenced longevity. When Telomics received the Martian genotype, Iosefa started looking for that variation to explain the Elder’s healthy appearance. There it was: the polymorphism, present in a percentage of the general population, that he had been tracking to specific areas of the world. One in five people had it, but it had never been linked to any disease and was considered inconsequential—until Iosefa found it in the Martian.
...
Patrick tried to start every day by catching up on science news that might reflect on the mission. So, crumpet in hand, seated on the living room couch in his Pasadena home, he searched through a list of topics; one of them "Martian genotype" produced several articles and references every day. Today, one article in particular caught his eye partly because it was from a science blog normally dedicated to the bio-pharma industry.
"The Martian Variant," as the article was titled, was not really about the Martian; it recounted a multi-year genetic scavenger hunt that had led a researcher named Iosefa Leota to trace incidences of a genetic marker along migration routes back to specific areas of the world. That hunt had now followed the marker’s trail back to the planet Mars. Patrick sent the link to Kate.
Kate was in Patrick's office, tablet in hand, when he arrived. She flipped it around to show him the article. “What do you think about it?” she asked.
Patrick shook his head. “A year ago, I would have called it farfetched. But a year ago, I would have called finding a Martian farfetched too.”
Kate paced and ran her fingers through her wavy red hair. “So, he's saying that sometime in our distant history, Martians came to Earth and started making whoopie. And now we all carry Martian genes in us?”
“Not all of us. He said ‘only some people.’ It's a variation he's linked to random individuals who are in good health and live long lives. He's been researching it for Telomics, probably so they can turn-out some longevity drug.”
Kate broke-out laughing, “That's crazy shit. If Martians carried this gene that gives them long lives, then how come they're all dead on planet Mars?”
“Good question,” Patrick chuckled. It was an ironic finding. “Maybe we can get his help understanding that. Can you go through our contact at Telomics and ask if Iosefa can come talk to us? I feel like we all need to understand his research better.”
...
Triche stood at the intersection of her twenty-foot-high corner office windows. It helped her think to look down on the streets full of people jostling past each other to get to their next stress point, their next chance at greatness, their next existential challenge.
A producer had brought the article to her attention. The researcher was nobody she recognized, but Telomics was a company she had considered as a potential sponsor for programming that would target the next generation of youth-seekers. Now this researcher claimed that certain people have a guarantee of longevity. She thought for a moment. There was no money in selling longevity to people who know they already carry the gene. But World Media owned a large stake in the Martian fantasy civilization, more wise and infinitely more powerful than us on Earth. There was a lot of money in giving a group of people a rationale for feeling special. And now they had a genetic link between some people on Earth and that miraculous culture.
...
Telomics was happy to work with NASA, but not willing to let one of their researchers speak to them in private, so a very polite invitation had been sent back inviting Patrick to the headquarters office. Patrick now rode through a bucolic landscape up to a security gate where he was name-checked and cleared to enter. At the greeter's desk, biometrics and credentials were taken, cross referenced with the database, and a photo taken for his badge. At the turnstile, an executive assistant met him and waved a chip-embedded hand to pass him through the gateway to the elevators. In the conference room waited a heavy-set man named Iosefa, along with the severe-looking, sharp-nosed Louis Ratham, Executive Vice President, Longevity.
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Patrick greeted them and began, “Your article gave us quite a start and I want to be sure I understand the implications of your findings. Are you stating that the genetic marker you found in the Martian genotype is present here on Earth?”
Ratham nodded. “Yes. It's one of the many natural variations in DNA that make us individuals. It's a minor polymorphism that scientists haven't been able to link to a condition. Some thought it was a lingering mutation from early in our evolution. Iosefa?” He gestured toward Iosefa, who put a grid of data on a wall monitor.
“Please call me Sefa. I am the principal data scientist for Telomics. Years ago, I received a research grant to mine medical records to determine if there was any common condition among people with this marker. It was quite a project. It took a lot of negotiations to access the data. Even though people get genetic tests to determine their heritage, autosomal DNA tests are not of the right type to identify this variant. Only certain medical tests—like those given in hospitals or in criminal investigations—identify it. The data mining of existing test results revealed this as a marker for a longer average life span.”
Patrick scratched his chin, “Everyone who has this marker lives longer?”
“Not everyone. There are behavioral and environmental factors that can shorten a person's life, so you have a percentage that falls below the predominate group.”
“So how does this connect with the Martian?”
A smile came across Sefa’s face. He was clearly proud of his discovery. “Well, first of all... the Martian had the variant. The variant is not part of the general human genome. Some factor caused it. About a year ago, that's what I started looking for. I started tracing migration patterns for these individuals...”
Patrick wasn’t interested in migration patterns. “Hold it, get back to the Martian.”
“NASA’s analysis has shown us how similar we and the Martians are to each other. Our genomes are nearly identical. So that leads us to conclude that there is a genetic constant among certain life forms. But there are also variants among genomes that represent different haplogroups.”
Patrick squinted at the terminology. “Haplogroups?”
“A haplogroup is a branch of the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree—the human family tree. This variant indicates a new haplogroup defined by the oldest recorded genome with that variant. In human genetics, we have named the common ancestors for all men and women the Mitochondrial Adam and Eve. This variant would indicate we have now discovered the Mitochondrial Martian Adam. Existence of this variant in segments of the population indicates cross-breeding. So that means they came to Earth.”
Sefa had laid out his hypothesis, now he was ready to explain its manifestations. “Now, as I was saying before you interrupted me, the work I've done recently with migration patterns indicates specific areas of origin around Earth.”
“How far back? Neanderthal?”
“I'm nowhere near that far back. I'm talking less than ten-thousand years.” Sefa looked over to Ratham, who nodded his silent permission to elaborate. Sefa then pulled up another file and entered a command. “The data file is huge, but the calculations and plotting won't take long. In the few minutes before we get results, let me explain where we are.
“The data distillations I did in tracing the marker—even before receiving the Martian genotype—indicated group migration from specific areas: the Fertile Crescent, Ethiopia, Northern Thailand, Mexico, South America. Using our genetic test that picks up the Martian variant, we were able to accurately measure populations in Ethiopia and Thailand.” He glanced down at his screen. “The data is ready...”
The screen showed a map of the upper Nile, bearing concentrations of dots. Sefa continued, “You're seeing Ethiopia. We’ve calculated the incidence of the Martian variant in nearly 50% of the sample group, whereas in North America the current baseline is 20%.”
“And you are confident of the size and validity of your samples?” Patrick asked.
Sefa smiled broadly, “Absolutely. The test has been in use for almost a decade. It's expensive, but it's in use.”
Ratham added, “We developed this screening for specific professional purposes. The ability to pick out the Martian variant is a side attribute, but one that can be identified in tens of thousands of archived genotypes.”
“In countries at the far reaches of the globe,” Patrick added. He was puzzled by the large number of data points in countries with few customers for Telomics products. “Why have you tested in so many developing countries?”
Ratham replied, “It's not unusual in our industry. Clinical trials often begin in developing countries before final testing in the United States. We used our network.”
Patrick summarized, “So, this is not a new test, just a new interpretation of a formerly insignificant piece of data that is in many, many existing test results.”
Ratham interlaced his finger tips and looked over them at Patrick. “Yes. But now we're looking at a larger test population. We plan to make the test available to the general public.”
“But you said it’s expensive.”
“Volume will bring the price down, somewhat.”
“After approvals,” Patrick retorted.
Ratham smiled. “Already approved.”