Change Agent

by Daniel Suarez

“Of course, of course, way too old to have received these edits in vitro. CRISPR didn’t even exist then. Somehow you have specialized cells known as chromatophores seamlessly woven into your skin. My microscope just confirmed their structure.” “What are they?” “You could think of them as genetic tattoos. They appear identical in structure to that of a chameleon—the topmost layer transparent with subsequent layers containing various pigments; xanthophores for yellow, erythrophores for red, cyanophores for blue, melanophores for brown—you get the idea. In a chameleon the colors are locked away in tiny vesicles so they don’t normally appear. But they react to the central nervous system and are sensitive to chemicals in the bloodstream, making their colors visible when under duress or—” “Excitement. Emotion.” “Precisely. Mood. Most people think the color changes of a chameleon are for camouflage, but they’re actually to convey information to enemies and potential mates. Fascinating creatures, really.”