Seizure

What could the Shroud of Turin, a conservative Southern senator, and an entrepreneurial researcher have in common? Here, politics, religion, and bioscience collide in a gripping narrative. Senator Ashley Butler, a quintessential demagogue, embodies traditional American values and reacts against virtually all biotechnologies. When tasked with chairing a sub-committee to ban new cloning technology, he sees it as pivotal for his political future. This poses a barrier for Dr. Daniel Lowell, who has developed a groundbreaking technique to advance stem-cell research. Although they appear to be opposites destined to clash during Senate hearings, both men share a critical flaw: Butler’s insatiable quest for power overshadows his concern for the unborn, while Lowell’s ambition for wealth and fame eclipses his patients’ well-being. The situation intensifies when Butler learns he has Parkinson’s disease, leading to a Faustian pact with Lowell. However, the premature use of Lowell’s technology results in Butler suffering from severe temporal lobe epilepsy, causing bizarre seizures. This cautionary tale reflects the challenges of navigating a rapidly evolving biotechnological landscape, highlighting the ethical dilemmas of our time.