Born to Last

Anton had been fascinated by the legendary Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León since childhood, especially since his mother was equally captivated by him! Although history books portray Ponce de León as a man obsessed with the mythical Fountain of Youth, Anton believed that the secret to longevity was never hidden—it was right before humanity all along. He viewed longevity not as something to be discovered but as something to be understood and optimized.

Determined to prove his theory, Anton pursued an education in biology, delving into genetics, human physiology, and studying aging. By the time he had earned his Ph.D., he had developed a revolutionary idea. Science has long debated whether genetics or lifestyle is more significant in determining longevity. Still, Anton theorized that genes accounted for at least 50–60% of the equation, with lifestyle factors making up the remaining 40–50%. With this knowledge, he set out to partner with nature rather than fight against it.

After years of research, Anton founded "Life Extender," which aimed to revolutionize human longevity through selective genetic pairing. His business model was simple but groundbreaking: Life Extender would purchase eggs from women whose parents had lived at least 15 to 20 years beyond the average life expectancy with no serious health issues. Women who could prove their parents had exceeded this benchmark by over 20 years were offered generous bonuses. Similarly, Anton recruited sperm donors from men whose parents displayed the same extraordinary longevity and health.

With a database of what he called "super donors," Anton offered clients two primary services. Women wishing to conceive could purchase sperm from these elite donors to fertilize their eggs, while men could acquire eggs to be fertilized in test tubes using their sperm. The fertilized eggs could then be implanted into their partners during pregnancy. For couples facing infertility or seeking the best possible genetic foundation for their child, Anton provided his most premium service: creating test-tube babies using eggs and sperm exclusively from super donors. This ensured that the offspring possessed the highest genetic potential for longevity, intelligence, and physical vitality.

The business was booming, with offers for a generous buyout. Investment bankers proposed billions to take the company public. Ultimately, Anton decided to take “Life Extender” public and pursue an Initial Public Offering. This choice transformed Anton into a billionaire overnight, but it did not take long for controversy to emerge. Critics accused Life Extender of engaging in eugenics, arguing that Anton was playing with life’s ethical decisions by selectively breeding humans. Religious institutions, bioethicists, and politicians debated the morality of the practice. Some feared the implications of a society where only the wealthy could afford these so-called super babies. Others raised concerns about potential unintended genetic consequences that might arise over time.

Despite the backlash, Life Extender continued to grow, with demand for his services exceeding the supply of sperm and egg donors. This led to long waiting lists of prospective clients willing to pay more than his listed prices. Consequently, Anton began pricing his services in an auction-like manner, boosting his gross margins and profitability. Over the years, Anton’s methods proved highly effective, and his services remained in high demand. The children born from his program exhibited remarkable health, longer lifespans, and superior cognitive and physical abilities. As they reached school age, these "Life Extender babies" outperformed their peers in academics, sports, and overall vitality. Parents who conceived children through traditional methods began to voice concerns that their kids were at an inherent disadvantage.

Before long, the controversy escalated into a societal divide. Schools reported increasing complaints from parents whose children struggled to compete with the Life Extender offspring. Some called for these genetically optimized children to be placed in separate classes. Others even suggested banning them from competitive sports, arguing they had an unfair genetic advantage.

The debate extended to the Olympics, where athletes with Life Extender genetics began breaking records at unprecedented rates. Traditional athletes protested, claiming these competitors were not naturally gifted but bioengineered for success. Courts became inundated with cases debating whether genetically enhanced individuals should be allowed to participate in traditional competitions. Even workplaces saw a shift—companies started favoring Life Extender graduates for their intelligence and stamina, leading to resentment among traditionally conceived individuals.

What had begun as a noble attempt to extend human life had morphed into an ethical crisis. Once lauded as a visionary, Anton was at the center of intense scrutiny. Many accused him of unintentionally creating a new class divide: the enhanced versus the unenhanced. Psychological studies revealed that children born through Life Extender began to suffer from emotional trauma due to the pressures imposed by society. Their achievements were constantly questioned, with critics attributing their success not to hard work but to their engineered genetics. They faced resentment from peers who saw them as products of scientific experiments rather than individuals.

As the years passed, Anton reflected on his work's unintended consequences. He had set out to help humanity live longer and healthier lives, yet his discoveries had created societal rifts that no one had foreseen. Was it possible to extend life without altering the fundamental fabric of society? Could a balance be struck between nature and science without creating a new form of discrimination?

As governments scrambled to regulate genetic selection and debates continued in courts and public forums, Anton realized that humanity’s quest for longevity was no longer just about science—it was about ethics, equality, and the very definition of being human. As these events unfolded, everyone began to hold their breath as the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take on a case to decide whether the U.S. Olympics should prevent these “super kids” from competing in their sports due to the possibility that these bioengineered individuals had an unfair advantage over children born using traditional methods. Tons of money were donated to the attorneys arguing the case on both sides as the country became highly polarized on this issue.

Sadly, despite the legal debate that had emerged, few stopped to consider that in any decision made by the highest court in the land, humanity would suffer by favoring one group over another since the children in this court battle had no say in how they were brought into this world. For this reason, most agree that the legal outcome will be a tragedy for the children who lose this court battle.