I read a sci-fi story in the early 90’s and can’t remember the name of the story or author.
The premise was that a reporter was investigating a formerly famous set of genetically engineered children. Their program consisted of four sets of four children, 2 male and 2 female in each group. The groups were designated A through D and the kids all had names begining with the letter of their group. One set of kids were super scientists, one set engineered to be super artists, one set that died after just a few months (widely believed to have willed themselves to die because they were inhumanely intelligent). The main character interviews the artists who show him a painting that literally mesmerizes him. He has to be shaken out of staring at it for an hour. The super scientist group also committed suicide, but apparently left behind a “gift” for humanity. It turned out to be an instruction manual for the human genome hidden in art created by the artists who collaborated.
That’s about all I remember. Anyone know this piece?