"Oh, well, I assumed you hadn't figured out science," she agreed, laughing. "That'd be a tall order. I meant more that you've probably made some significant advances in evolutionary biology. Though you're right, adding extraterrestrial life would just explode it outward again."

She doesn't ask about the genetic engineering. Instead, she added, "Are you finding that life plays by some of the same rules everywhere, or is each planet a new ballgame?"