artificial-gestation

This chapter details the controlled birth and early care of genetically engineered infants within a highly monitored artificial environment, highlighting the successes and failures of genetic experimentation. It also explores the broader context of genetic preservation and manipulation on Cyteen, emphasizing the role of Reseune in safeguarding genetic diversity and planning for humanity's long-term evolutionary future. The narrative underscores the tension between rapid, intelligent genetic engineering and the natural evolutionary processes it seeks to replace or augment.

In this chapter, Ari visits a laboratory where babies are gestated in artificial womb-tanks, learning about the differences between azi and CITs, and the nature of her own birth. Maman explains the technological and emotional aspects of artificial birth, the role of tape-learning for azi, and reveals Ari's origins, including the death of her biological father and the use of gene banking. The chapter explores Ari's mixed feelings about her identity, family relationships, and the implications of being born through artificial means.