
just in case yall are confused.
So, the four rivers of the garden of eden in the bible are: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates
Right now we can assume these 4 people are important figures of "the garden of eden" aka the rebel group
Now in chapter 56, it revealed the names of the 4 rivers
Pishon is Kwak Jaewon (which means he's def related to Major Kwak)
Gihon is Kang Soneun
hiddekel/Tigris is Wonho (Dr.Oh's colleague that got executed for being a rebel)
Euphrates is Oh YangSeok (Or Dr.Oh, Dr.seok's mentor that died)
Now Dr.seok's mom mentioned she was Euphrates meaning she was an important figure of the garden of eden before Dr.Oh
In the beginning when she was talking with Dr.Oh, She talks about not wanting to give up Dr.Seok to be a lab rat for Rainbow city, that should raise red flags about the city.
She then talks about her Colleagues Kwak and Kang doing what they did, so you can assume relatives of Major Kwak did some sort of sacrifice for the city (another red flag). I don't know if it was revealed what Kwak Jaewon's relationship to Major kwak was, but from what we know, Major kwak's parents had him without the city's permission and they were once researchers. Now if we were to say Kwak Jaewon is Major Kwak dad, then you can assume he did something to major kwak if you follow the words of Dr.Seok's mom.
Bottomline is, she basically reveals to us the deeper mysteries behind the city and its use of researchers and children in order to find "eve" or in other words a cure for the adam virus. And tells Dr.Seok to not trust humans.
NOW, if you link that to rainbow city's "mutants"
recap, The immortal regiment (aka, Major kwak, Major lee and Major yang) they are all mutants, which are children allegedly born with superhuman bodies but have defects in other places, born as a result of evolution to counter the adam virus. Connecting that to the city wanting to counter the adam virus + children + researchers......If you see where im going at...

I just finished 8 hours of fracture management and may have used my brain juices up so im still confused. Are they trying to genetically modify humans to perhaps make genetically “stronger” humans, this is under the assumption that adam virus was created to do exactly that. Or because of the existence of the adam virus, they are using it to modify humans with the said virus/vaccine in an attempt to keep their cognitive abilities while being infected ie humanadamzombie ?

That is the assumption yes. (because my ass wants to spoil everything but gotta remember I can't spoil anything because it'll be much more clearer later on)
But f you want the spoilers here they are (spoilers)
Long story short, yes. The city is genetically modifying i believe it was infants, to make them much stronger. and basically mass killing them but those who do survive and are successfully modified grow up to be "mutants"

From what I can conclude (and I don't mind if you spoil me), the 'virus' was developed in preparation of a new system of world oder. The virus helps the "higher ups" in many ways:
1. Control of the human population. Years ago, people are basically killed because they were (purposely) infected by the virus, which resulted in mass kiling of the past generations.(who has not develop a proper immune system to counter it.)
2. Create "super soldier" that will protect the system. A whole generation were genetically evolved for the future. I'm suspecting that those younger generations are privileged or at least connected to higher society. (Major Lee's status speak for herself, and Major Kwak's parents being researchers.)
3. To sustain a new ways of profit. Create the virus, sell vaccines, rinse and repeat. This virus had evolved many times, creating generations of wealth for many years. This explains why those higher ups live in such luxuries despite living in an "apocalyptic" world. Dr.Seok's mother was the previous Euphrates who retired (possibly volunteered) and now wants to live a peaceful life with her little family.
Now, I don't think Rainbow City (the Koreans) are responsible for everything that had happened because the virus was first recorded in Europe and now there are only 3 nations left (worldwide). I also just find it hard to believe that there are people who think it's okay to kill and control the global population through a virus, but again, villians are beyond moral comprehension.
The only thing I'm confused now is what is the actual purpose of The Garden of Eden? At first, I thought they're a terrorist/rebel organisation, formed to challenge the current system. It's a reaction.
But now? I don't think so anymore. This "cult" was started by the older generations who are now in charge of the government, which makes it feels confusing to me. I'm not exactly sure and probably forgot the timeline of when the cult was established as well.
Maybe, Garden of Eden did have a good intention at first, to create cure. Adam needs Eve, virus needs cure. They're aware that finding cure will result in their death, hence why they went by code names. However, due to conflict of interest and perhaps submission to higher power, this organisation went astray and that's why they're killing each other.
Regardless, it's absolutely dangerous if Dr. Seok were to find a cure. He will be targeted by the whole world. But with the situation we're at now (Chapter 66), he must find a cure or else he will "die". Or maybe, the author has some plans because Dr. Seok may be a defect but he's still a "good mutant" (if I remember it correctly, I could be wrong).
Well, I could be wrong about everything so scratch that (●'◡'●)ノ

Actually you almost summed it up perfectly (MASSIVE Spoilers)
Yes, its true the government took advantage of the virus. The reason the virus kept "mutating" was because the government needed it to control the people, so they definitely did something to the vaccines. They don't give a shit about the people. I don't know about population control because later on they will literally start mass killing innocent people to save their own skins. And this matter of control and profit is also why they refuse to make a cure. Dr.Seok will survive, but it's not because of a cure but something within his body. Im pretty sure he's not immune and what kills the virus in his body is a fluke because there's only one person who is naturally immune to the virus and I think we can all guess who by who has the most plot armor.
If im gonna spoil it to you, in the entirety of the novel + the side stories, a cure is never developed, but a vaccine is and that happens much later. The creation of mutants was initiated by a bunch of the older higher-ups (wonho, being at the center cause hes fucking insane), but he was eventually stopped by the city and executed and the creation of mutants stopped there I believe.
As for the purpose of the garden of eden, I actually really love the mystery because it's genuinely so interesting. (but if you can't wait, Ill spoil it BUT THE BUILD UP TO THE REVEAL MMM MMM MMM)
okay, so basically, you know how the garden of eden developed a vaccine right? NO. they made it seem like a vaccine, but it's actually a serum that heavily slows down the adam turning proccess so it is disguised as a vaccine. And dr.seok finds out much later. And because of that, there's gonna be A HUGE ADAM OUTBREAK. And what exactly is their purpose you might ask? So you know how the rainbow city government is incompetent right? So imagine there being a huge adam outbreak. They gon run off to jeju island and save themselves. SO THEN the garden of eden can SWOOP IN and be like "EVERYONE WE HERE TO SAVE YOU" and take over the government for themselves. Now, the thing about the people of the garden of eden is that they want any sort of solution to the adam virus, they aint the bad guys. THE REAL BAD GUY is the serpent who manipulated people into thinking he's doing everybody good when in reality he has a crazy obsession with the ending of the world, a reset in the bible and WANTS everyone to be killed by the adam virus. And since he's the leader of the garden of eden, he's manipulating everybody and pulling all the strings and that's the true intention.
The cult was originally established to rebel against rainbow city's corruption, yes. But it's also been corrupt after the death of the 4 rivers. (minus Wonho because he's a bitch and wanted to experiment on fetuses, babies and people)
Is the author on crack? AINT NO WAY ┗( ToT )┛