Reconstructing missing organs with synthetic materials or transplanting tissue from other humans or animals carries the risk that the body will reject the implant. In 1995 scientists at the University of Massachusetts and M.I.T. fashioned a precision mold out of porous, biodegradable polymer, seeded it with human cartilage cells, then tucked the structure under the skin of a mouse bred without an immune system (to prevent rejection). Nourished by mouse blood, the cartilage cells multiplied, taking the shape of the dissolving polymer scaffold and creating a perfectly formed human ear, "growing" out of the mouse's back. The idea behind tissue engineering is to trick the body into regenerating its missing parts. The mouse with the extra ear was created to prove that the basic technology does work. In practice, humans would grow their own tissue, without the help of mice.

The Abject Lesson: Amoral Science fills the void of meaningless Religion. Advances in technology become our beacon of hope and immortality as we squirm from the sperm to the worm through this wonderful world. As we evolve, adapt and decay, our life paths branch out before us: The Good Soldier, the Artist, the Devil, the Fool, the Atlas crucified by the weight of his martyrdom. Will we be able to distinguish Gospel from Church any better than we did with the Old Gods? What do the New Miracles offer us when we face the Old Questions?