Biohackers

Mommy.

Daddy.

Daddy.

Daddy!

Daddy!

Help!

Help!

Tomorrow's class is canceled.

I'm meeting the biology experts in Zurich tonight.

Fill out the online petition supporting the genetic modification of stem cells.

Mia, you collect the biometric data from the subjects.

Got it.

Jasper, you keep the lab at my place running.

Oh, and...

And please record the ATP levels every four hours.

Is the cell culture medium ready?

Yes, you just have to add the corresponding concentration.

And please go deeper with the sequencing

-than last time. -Yes.

-Key? -Yes.

-Is it fully charged? -Yes, I went to the supercharger.

Do you two need a little privacy?

Then get to work.

Bye-bye.

-Bye. -Bye.

You can take the plasters off in an hour.

Bye.

What are you doing?

I have to check this against a DNA sample for diseases.

-So, why don't you have clearance? -No idea.

-Aren't you responsible for clearance? -I am, but Lorenz--

No problem, I'll just call Lorenz and tell her there was a mix-up.

No, don't. We shouldn't disturb her while she's at the panel.

Thanks.

ARCHIVE

ADVANCED SEARCH BEN ENGELS

EMMA

Did you find what you were looking for?

Yes.

What does "off-site digital storage" mean?

We only store patient DNA here, not the corresponding patient files.

Because the university has been hacked before.

Oh, right.

So, where are the files?

Where Lorenz keeps everything that's important: at her home.

Thanks.

Did someone order coffee?

Hey.

Relax. I'm unarmed.

Done already?

Lorenz isn't here. You're my boss.

Is there anything I can do for you?

The equality commissioner would just love

how you're fighting against gender stereotypes.

Do you need to watch Lorenz's experiment all night? Or shall we do something?

I'll pick you up at eight.

A surprise. Now get out of here. Go!

It's super nice here.

Just you wait.

After you.

One of my friends organizes this.

Today is harvest festival.

-Is that...? -A hacked version.

No.

Hey, guys!

It's so awesome that you're all here!

Three, two, one...

This is so beautiful!

Whoa, this is mega Avatar style!

Who's that guy?

Double Felix.

What's he doing here?

With all that hype, he probably just wants to stay grounded

-and hang out with like-minded guys. -Should I know him?

Okay.

He has 570,000 followers.

They're just blue ticks. So what?

He's over-the-hill. It's my turn, I'm coming.

Not so often, though.

-Wait, what are you doing? -Networking.

Don't you have to go to Lorenz's place later?

Seriously? That's what you're thinking about right now?

What?

You've got something there.

You, too.

-My roommates. Double Felix. -Hey.

Hey.

Hemp with GFP. Cool.

I'd do it differently, or else you have to keep transferring the plants,

which is inefficient.

The cooler way to do it is to grow a plant directly from synthetic seeds,

because isolating the DNA of a cannabis plant is easy,

and so is synthesizing the gene for

the luminescent protein and injecting it into the seed. Done!

-CRISPR crack? -Part-time.

This cutie is the super crack.

If we go into business together, I could probably bring her in as an asset.

Smart and pretty.

"Sequencing..."

Let's go to Portofino.

They have the best ice cream. Three chocolate flavors:

Serious Chocolate, they have Double Chocolate Chunk

-and the one with bits in it. -I want stracciatella!

-Yeah, but that's only half chocolate. -What?

-It still counts. -But only half.

Oh, shit, didn't you promise Lorenz you'd do the experiments?

Oh, you're right.

But I bet she has ice cream at home.

But you can't come with me, so it's all mine.

Oh, but I want ice cream now!

Hey, sorry, but there's no way!

I hope she has chocolate.

-You'll live like this some day, too. -Yeah, right.

Sure. You're just like her!

-Okay, I'll get the ice cream. -Can I use the bathroom quickly?

Or I can just go behind the bushes.

We wouldn't want them to start glowing.

Imagine Lorenz comes home and her bushes are glowing.

"Oh, my God, my bush."

Okay, but quickly.

The bathroom is back there. I'll get the ice cream.

Okay.

-Hey, don't touch anything! -Of course not!

Hey! You can look, but don't touch.

Clever, these little breathing lights. Really makes you fall for the computer.

You're jealous.

So, get your stuff done. Maybe Ole will build you a little lamp.

-Don't cause any trouble. -Never.

PASSWORD

It was worth a try.

Jasper?

Jasper?

-Okay, this is what I call home office. -You're not allowed to be here.

Relax.

I won't tell anyone.

Those are mine.

I modified them so that they can transmit diseases as efficiently as possible.

Man, you are psycho...

What? It's all in the name of research.

The little monsters look hungry.

And they have red eyes.

That's what you do with genetically modified life forms,

so you can identify them if they escape.

Aren't you worried about starting a pandemic?

They couldn't survive in the wild for longer than two minutes.

They need 98.6 degrees,

endless food, and willing sexual partners on every corner, just like in paradise.

And I'm their God.

Okay, God complex, you've got it.

-Until one bites you. -There's an antidote for every disease.

Here, and at home in my lab, too.

Malaria, dengue fever,

Coxsackievirus... nothing will happen to me.

And what else do you do here?

Sheep cloning?

Old school.

No.

We do gene vector research on heart stem cells, things like that.

Things you're not allowed to do at university

because of the bureaucracy and stuff.

Jasper?

You okay?

-What's up? -Nothing new.

-I just need a minute. -What is it?

It's fine.

-I'm going to lie down a minute, okay? -Do you feel dizzy?

Wait, wait.

Hey, what's the matter? Hey. Talk to me.

-Your pulse is at 180. -It always is.

What is?

What do you need?

Hey! Talk to me! What is it?

Shit!

I'll be right back.

Jasper?

One hundred and five degrees within two minutes.

Here, drink this.

You okay?

Shit. No reception in this crappy bunker.

Jasper, I'm going upstairs to call an ambulance.

No hospital.

What? No, you have to go to the hospital. This isn't good.

No!

Call Niklas.

Niklas?

He'll pick me up.

-Niklas? -What?

Jasper has a high fever, his blood pressure is sinking.