[ WP ] For the last 15 years humans have been able to manipulate our genes . Picking and choosing what we want our children to look like as well as other attributes . As of the last few days it is now becoming apparent across the globe this was not a good idea .

It started out simple enough. A few tweaks to the genes here or there. Hereditary diseases were no longer a problem. We had all but eliminated sickle cell, and hypercholesterolemia was on it's way out. After a decade of research, we had even figured out how to make people resistant to several types of cancer. 
 
 It did n't stop there, of course. Once we had the ability to engineer the genes of our children, it was n't long before we used it for other things as well. Children were made to be faster, stronger, smarter. The richest people had us track down the best of the best genes out there in an effort to make their children better than anyone else. Appearance became modifiable as well. I'm ashamed to say our lab was partially responsible for a resurgence of the blue-eyed, blond-haired Aryan ideal, although thankfully that was shut down by the government before it got out of hand. 
 
 We were n't fools, of course. Everyone knew that if the rich were allowed to physically better themselves, it would widen a rift between the classes that no amount of work could undo. People fought long and hard on both sides, but eventually a compromise was made. Those who could afford it could get their children modified however they saw fit; Everyone else would have the option of government-funded standard modifications. The upper echelon were unhappy about this, not least because the program was funded primarily by heavy taxation on voluntary modifications, but they obliged. 
 
 This state of affairs did n't last long. Everyone wanted their children to be the best, and those who could afford it found other ways to make it happen. The government-standard modifications gave children some of the best genes humans could offer. But who was to say we should stop at human? 
 
 The world was in shock the first time the story broke. Some eccentric billionaire had bribed a genelab to give his son literal eagle eyes. The billionaire was slapped with a hefty fine and the lab was shut down, but it was too late. Pandora's box had been opened. The kid was genetically still more than 99 % human, and in a landmark case the court ruled that he was entitled to all human rights. 
 
 Soon, other wealthy folk began to get animal genemods for their kids. Despite it's illegality, there was a hefty profit to be made and a black market soon arose to meet the demand. The wealthy individuals in question were fined or even jailed, but it did n't matter to them. The court ruling had established full rights and protection for their children, and that was all that mattered. 
 
 It did n't take long for the debate to become national, then global. Should we legalize animal genemods? The first chimeras were already starting to grow up, and so far they had showed no signs of physiological issues. The debate roared on both sides for years. Everyone from the religious, transhumanists, animal rights activists, and even the furry fandom joined in the debate; a debate which centered around a single important question: What did it mean to be human? 
 
 Fast forward fifteen years. After a long and painful legal battle, the American Consortium of Genetic Modification finally succeeded in getting animal genemods legalized. Years of testing had shown the procedures were fairly safe, with a genetic reuptake failure rate only marginally higher than that of a human genemod. Years of experience had also shown that should reuptake succeed, the child in question would likely suffer little physical effects. The psychological issues were another story, but it was one that had been glossed over by the proponents. 
 
 Once the procedure had been legalized, it was like the opening of a floodgate. People everywhere poured in to get their future children everything from eagle eyes to wolf ears to cat reflexes. The law mandated no more than 1 % animal DNA be present in a chimera, but that gave a lot of wiggle room. Research companies began developing `` packages'', pre-made genemods that combined multiple types of animal DNA to produce the most striking effects, while still remaining within that 1 % limit. 
 
 All these procedures had been elective, done by parents who could afford it. However, it would n't stay that way forever. Soon, the very same concerns that had originally brought about government-provided genemods began to applied to the animal genemods. In a striking display of greed masked by generosity, the ACGM put their full backing behind socializing animal genemods. With their political clout, it did n't take long for the law to be passed. And with that, it seemed the number of chimeras born would soon outnumber the pure human babies. 
 
 -- -- 
 
 A series of high profile cases soon changed that. A young chimera boy of 8, one who had been given wolf genes by his hopeful parents, attacked and bit another kid at school. The reality of the situation had been complex, of course. It's likely that a lifetime of bullying and rejection by his peers had just as much to do with it as his wolf genes, but to the papers it did n't matter. `` WOLF CHIMERA SAVAGES CHILD'' became the headline of the week, followed by `` HUMAN-LION HYBRID MAULS PARENTS'' and `` CHIMERA CHILD KILLS OTHER, SELF''. 
 
 Each story was more sensational than the last, playing to the dormant fears people had of the chimeras. The fickle public turned from embracing the future to fearing it. A massive backlash ensured, with multiple labs being sued for billions of dollars. Practically overnight, the majority of genelabs soon declared bankruptcy. Not long after, even human genemods became rare and expensive. 
 
 It was n't until the first chimeras reached adulthood that the far-reaching consequences were discovered. Without the help of a genelab, most hybrids were effectively sterile. Some, especially those who had been given a standard chimera package, found that they could breed with each other. Others were faced with the reality that they would never have children unless they could scrape up the cash for an expensive genemod procedure. To our horror, we realized too late that we had given birth to a generation of children in which a full third of them were of a different species. 
 
 And so we come to the present. Humanity, which has for so long been divided over trivial differences of race or cultuer, is no long unified by even a common species. No less than eleven different species of chimera survive today. They are resentful of us, their parents. Many have banded together with their own kin, no longer feeling welcome among pure humans. There have been riots, violence, and worse. Though the world is still peaceful now, I fear it will not be for long. War is coming, and it will make the wars of our history look tame by comparison. 
 
 We created them. We made them faster than us, stronger than us, smarter than us. We made them better than us. With their keen senses, powerful bodies, and predatory instincts, they are more than a match for the genemodded humans of their generation. Compared to us, their creators, we stand no chance at all. We created them without thinking, and now we must pay the price. 
 
 **EDIT: ** SO MANY SPELLING ERRORS
