One month has past. At Kasumigaseki Press Club.

After announcement of that article, the panic had been spreading to all over Japan. All the hospitals were flooded by outpatients for infertility test.

The Government was expected to announce a new plan at today’s conference.

Prime Minister Mr. Yamanaka looked like a little exhausted and nervous.

“At first I must say my apology to all Japanese citizens to delay the Government’s countermeasure for infertility. We had now officially confirmed spreading unknown infertility and started the research to clarify the cause. But it is expected to take long time Therefore the Government will establish “the Public Sperm Bank”. This organization is completely public and every Japanese can be registered as both donors and recipients. The matching will be done for completely free and confidentially. Personal data will strictly be protected.

Furthermore the Government will increase the official subsidy for the artificial insemination. We will prepare related laws and regulations until next spring and at latest until summer those will be enforced. I think with these measures we will be able to settle not only the infertility problem but also population decrease problem. I hope everyone will act calmly and orderly.”

Mr. PM closed his presentation with confidence.

“Question, question”

Many hands were raised.

“As a donor what kind of people will be selected?”

“Anyone who has no problem for his health. But we will make at least some screening not to have serious genetic diseases. Please think it just same as blood donation. Voluntary basis and no payment for donation.”

“Is there any legal or ethical problem for this project?”

“We have already consulted with the Specialist Committee and got positive opinions. Sperm donation has now already been prevailed as a general medication for infertile patients.”

Mr. PM answered smoothly using the assumed Q&A notes. But…

“Mr. PM, if the Sperm Bank cannot gather enough number of donors what are you going to do?”

Kazuki thought it was a precise question. In Japan people still think much of blood relationship. Even Kazuki had not tried AID (Artificial Insemination by Donor) yet. How many people will want donated sperms?

“Donated sperms are very precious. In case the number of donors is not enough, we should use them for plural patients. For example, by ISI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) namely insemination by microscope.”

At this moment when Kazuki heard of the word “ISI”, he suddenly felt those repeated panic syndrome, throb, dizziness and cold sweat. During these symptoms Kazuki squatted down on the floor and could not follow the Q&A. When he regained himself at last, the press conference had already been over.

Several days later. A socking news broke through all over the country. Everyone’s eyes were focused on the TV.

“A terrible news have come in. It is really astonishing.”

From the screen exciting voice of Newscaster Koike had been continuing.

“Today around seven o’clock the Japan Clone Technology Laboratory announced the birth of clone baby. If it is true, it might be the first case all over the world. According to Mr. Issiki, CEO of this Laboratory, after they had returned an embryonic cell artificially made from 30 years old husband’s sperm into 32 years old his wife’s uterus, they confirmed implantation today.”

This is it. Keiko remembered the Dr. Shinohara’s words which had hinted the ethics problem of Mr. Issiki’s study last year. Mr. Issiki had crossed the forbidden ethical line.

“Tonight we invited Mr. Issiki, CEO of the Laboratory, for the interview. Now we will start.”

TV camera was set back and Mr. Issiki’s face appeared on the screen. Keiko remembered his face clearly now but felt something wrong in his eyes. His sharp eyes indicated his great ambition.

“Mr. Issiki, thank you very much for joining us tonight. A clone baby. It is very astonishing and ambitious challenge, isn’t it? I think making a clone baby is prohibited by the law.”

“Well, at first I would like to make clear to avoid misunderstandings. Infertility is not a problem regulated by laws, ethics or other everything. We are now facing to serious biological problem. If we continue neglecting the essence of this problem thus far, Japanese might be exterminated in the far future. It is now we have to move.”

At present putting the embryonic cell which is possible to grow up to a fetus into the uterus is prohibited by the Human Clone Regulation Act. Issiki’s challenge would conflict with this Act.

Caster Koike ask furthermore.

“Wait a moment. If the purpose is to make a baby, I think current artificial insemination may be enough. Human cloning is a logical leap, isn’t it?”

“In a sense you might be right. But recently we find many males who had no sperm in their semen. In such a case they need donation from any other person. He cannot remain his own blood relationship by himself.

Furthermore if the Government establishes the Sperm Bank and uses few men’s sperm for many patients, it will cause serious biosimilarity.”

“Biosimilarity?”

“Yes, in another word, to lose biodiversity. Human, no, not only human but all other lifeforms could have been alive and continued their generations for such long period thanks to this biodiversity. If we lose it and all the people have similar genes, the risk of extinction will become higher because of diseases, climate changes or other various reasons. Biodiversity is a commonsense in biology. That Government’s plan of the Sperm Bank will lead to the worst scenario.”

“Then, Mr. Issiki, you may say Human Cloning is still better than artificial insemination.”

“Yes. In case of cloning the biodiversity will be held. If we have 100 kinds of gene, such variety will be kept in the next generation.”

Keiko was surprised with his logic but cannot find any counter opinion. It would be correct many people will want to pass their own blood to their descendants. For the non-sperm couples Human Cloning is the only way to remain their blood.

What will become of Japanese from now on? Keiko sighed and turn off the TV.

The next day. Dr. Shinohara’s office.

“As I expected, he finally became Frankenstein in 21 st century.”

“That means you had already known his study.”

“Yes, the University Ethics Committee issued the warning last year. But he did not give up, instead he submitted the resignation letter. After that I had heard he established a non-profitable organization for infertile patients and continued his work. I am really surprised with his boldness.”

Dr. Shinohara sighed regretfully. Keiko lost her word.

“By the way, what about your project? Is it going well?”

“Yes, thanks to your cooperation we have already collected more than three thousand samples.”

“Did you find any tendency for infertility?”

“Well, though it’s still intermediate analysis, many of samples show serious infertility. There is not so big difference by region. But we have found some difference by age. Infertility level is getting worse for younger people, especially less than 25 years old, the worst case was no sperm discovered.”

“Hmm, less than 25 years old…”

Dr. Shinohara meditated for a while.

“Considering no big bias between regions, the acting substances might be widespread thing all over Japan. For example, water or staple food like rice. In that case the prevailing pesticide residue would be doubtful. If it is, for example, some factory pollution, that influence could be limited to only one region.”

“But, Professor Shinohara, the most of pesticides are strictly regulated by the Government. Standard values could be far below allowance level.”

“Yes, you are right. But we have no idea about very long term effect. Many of such chemicals could sometimes be accumulated in the human body before emerging visible side effects. Only a clue is the problem age is less than 25 years old. That means an answer would be about 10 years before. Around 15 years old is the most important period for the human genital organs development. What did happen 10 years ago?”

“Thank you very much for your advice, professor. I will focus on the events 10 years before.”

Keiko was cheered up by the hint. But thereafter her research will be unexpectedly hard.

To be continued