“Now, if we had some bones from matrilineal Eve here as well, how would they be similar, besides having the same mitochondrial DNA sequence?”

“Perhaps they’d have the same nuclear DNA sequence as well,” Jack suggested.

“Maybe, but that’s not what I want to hear,” Shawn said, as impatient as Sana. “Think from a theological perspective!”

Jack shook his head while looking at Sana. She shook her head as well. “You are going to have to tell us what you want to hear.”

“Theologically, they were both made directly by God the Father. Remember the Catholic feast James mentioned to us this past Sunday that he celebrated? It was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was about the creation of Mary to be the sinless Mother of Christ. Well, Eve was also sinless at first. As the first female, there was no one else around to create her but God himself. Now, how many recipes, so to speak, do you think God might have for humans? My guess would be one, and in terms of mitochondrial DNA sequence, what we have here is the one. He used the same recipe for both Mary and Eve, which makes it interesting they turned out so differently, since they are twins.”

For a few moments no one spoke. Each was lost in his own thoughts until Jack broke the silence: “If what you say is the case, you two have inadvertently yet scientifically corroborated the existence of the divine.”

Both Sana and Shawn laughed gleefully and then hugged despite Sana’s barrier gown, hat, gloves, and booties. “Our journal articles are going to be classics even before their publications,” Shawn blurted. He then broke away from Sana. “I have to get to work! I’m not sure if I’ll be able to wait to finish all three scrolls. I’ve never been more excited in my life about a couple of papers.”

“I’m going to run several more samples, just to be totally sure of the results,” Sana announced.

“And while you guys do that,” Jack said, getting to his feet, “I’m going to head home somewhat early to insist my wife take a break.” Actually, Jack had something more specific in mind. He’d called the pediatric oncologist that morning who was in charge of the neuroblastoma protocol at Memorial to ask, in light of JJ’s several good days, if Jack should bring the boy in for blood work to check his level of mouse antibody.

“Congratulations,” Jack called out as he opened the door to the hall. Both Shawn and Sana waved in response. Sana was at that moment heading back into the gowning room to regown. Shawn was back at the painstaking unrolling work. “What time in the morning?” Jack yelled out.

“Let’s say ten,” Shawn yelled back. “There may be some celebrating tonight.”