"In the year 1866, I discovered the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love, and named my discovery Christian Science," Science and Health, p. 107; Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. She saw man, in Science, as all-spiritual. In the same year, 1866— and the date is the only thing held in common here—were published the findings of the biologist Gregor Mendel. His research with plant life, which later was applied to animals and men, indicated that for each physical trait, each possessed two "factors"; these factors are today called genes. The physical and genetic sense-views of man, and the metaphysical spiritual view of man, are fundamentally divergent.
Physical man, it's claimed, is greatly governed by characteristics transmitted through genetic coding. Traits, it is said, result from genes from both parents. As seen in Science, man, God's spiritual idea, is governed by God and inherits only His spiritual and ideal characteristics.
In the last decade or so gene-splicing research—combining genetic material of different species—has become a burgeoning and controversial field. The claimed potential of this engineering has startled and fascinated human thought. Along with grotesque potentials of genetic manipulation (new diseases or strange forms of life could be bred) comes the promise of great possible benefits—it is said—in curing disease, controlling pollution, and maybe revolutionizing agriculture. New strains of wheat, for instance, needing no nitrogen fertilizer, could be developed, and this would dramatically boost food production for a malnourished world.
