Genetic Inheritance
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Oct 5, 2020
- 2 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
Checking his phone notifications, PETER pauses.
PETER (V.O.): Here's an interesting question from a Quoran: Which of your relative's lifespan is most likely to predict how long you'll live?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've read something about the X-chromosomes and the Y-chromosomes...I believe I look and smile like my Mom.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's a scientific question after all.
Peter surfs the web.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My DNAs have 50% of my Dad's genes and 50% of my Mom's genes.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Nature's design is really amazing. So fair.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But male genes are more aggressive, and therefore they're more prominent.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): And the sex of a future baby depends on the father as he has both the X-chromosomes and the Y-chromosomes, while the mother only X-chromosomes.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I'm male, as I got both the X-chromosomes and the Y-chromosomes.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): If a father has more brothers, he's likely to have more sons and vice versa...Interesting.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.): My Dad had two brothers and one sister. He had four sons and one daughter.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Quite right. I should have more sons than daughters then.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I stopped at half-and-half. That' s fair, consistent with nature's design.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): The genes responsible for intelligence are contained in the X-chromosomes...and therefore I've inherited my intelligence from my Mom?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Mom had only primary school education. My Dad too. They're classmates and married before the age of 20.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I think I behave more like my Dad, disciplined and creative.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Scientifically, it's my Dad's genes that impact on my health.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My grandpa lived to the age of 62 with unhealthy habits. My Dad didn't have any unhealthy habits and lived to the age of 80.
Reading.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Scientists speculate that in the first 70-80 years of age, lifestyle is the strong determinant of health and lifespan. It's only after the age of 80 and beyond would genetics play a progressively important role.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy in the world.
Peter surfs the web with his mobile.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Hong Kong, the average life expectancy for men is 81.3 years of age and women at 87.3.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My Dad died at the age of 80 and my Mom is still alive, living beyond 87.3.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Today is October 5. I first got married on this date in 1979. I didn't intend to have any children, as life was hard.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But my first wife died untimely, at the age of 36.
Sighing again.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINUOUS
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've internalized my late wife in me; and I think nature should be fair to us.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): But that's only wishful, unscientific thinking.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To predict how long will I live, I've to follow science.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): All factors considered, I predict that I can live to the Hong Kong average ie 81.3 years of age.
Counting fingers.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): So, that's about 15 years from now. I thank my late Dad and my Mom for giving me life.
Peter types his answers on his phone.
FADE OUT.
THE END
Комментарии