Izingane Zakusasa?

Unyaka ngu-2050. UMelissa usemthola-mpilo, ubheké i-computer. Uyazindla. Phela, ukukhetha umntwana akuyona into encane, ongayenza ngokuxhamazela. Umshini uveza isithombe setshitshi elimamathekayo uMelissa nomyeni wakhe, uCurtis, asebeliqambe ngokuthi u-Alice. Kokubili isithombe nokwaziswa okunyatheliswe eceleni kwaso kulandisa okuningi ngohlobo lomuntu u-Alice ayoba yilo, ngokomzimba nangokwengqondo.

U-Alice akakazalwa. Leli tshitshi lesikhathi esizayo lisewumbungu, ugcinwé kahle egumbini eliseduze ezingeni lokubanda elingu-200° C ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa kanye neminye imibungu eminingi. Izakhi zofuzo zombungu ngamunye zahlolwa zase zifakwa kuyi-computer ukuze zisize abazali bakhethe ukuthi yimuphi ozofakwa esibelethweni sikaMelissa.

Njengoba uMelissa noCurtis befuna intombazane, imibungu yesilisa ibekelwa eceleni. Ngokulandelayo, abazali bahlola imibungu esele ukuze babheke izici ezinjengesimo sempilo, ukubukeka nesimilo sengane. Ekugcineni uMelissa noCurtis bayakhetha. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezingu-9 bayajabula lapho kuzalwa indodakazi abazikhethele yona—u-Alice uqobo lwakhe, ophilayo.

LE NDABA iwukufingqwa kokulandisa okwalotshwa uLee Silver, uprofesa we-molecular biology ePrinceton University, eNew Jersey, e-U.S.A. Iwumbono walokho akholelwa ukuthi kungenzeka emashumini eminyaka ezayo. Imibono yakhe isekelwe ocwaningweni nasebuchwephesheni obukhona manje. Kakade, imibungu ingahlolwa ukuthi ayinazo yini izifo ezithile zofuzo. Futhi sekudlule iminyaka engu-20 kusukela kwazalwa umntwana wokuqala ngaphandle kwesibeletho. Njengoba akhulela kuyi-petri dish, wayewumbungu wokuqala owakhulela ngaphandle kwesibeletho sikanina.

Iqiniso lokuthi uDkt. Silver ubiza le ngane ngokuthi u-Alice lingase lisikhumbuze inganekwane yodumo ethi Alice in Wonderland. Yebo, abaningi balindele ikusasa elinezimanga. Ingosi yomhleli kamagazini owaziwayo i-Nature yathi: “Ithonya elikhulayo lesayensi yezakhi zofuzo lisinikeza ithemba lesikhathi esizayo lokuthi siyokwazi ukushintsha imvelo yethu.”

Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizobheka enye intuthuko emkhakheni we-biotechnology, sigxile ikakhulukazi emathembeni “okuthuthukisa” isintu. Ingabe umsebenzi wocwaningo owenziwa namuhla uyothonya ukuphila kwakho nokwezingane zakho? Abaningi bakholelwa yilokho.