Well, if biological analysis can be accomplished with Life element, that just works perfectly. A few  more questions though: 

1)I've made my character under the assumption that Life + Dark = Mutation, more or less. Am I correct on this?

2)Expanding on that, how would trying to offensively mutate others work? Like an infection which could transform/mutate the victim into a feral abomination. That is sort of a mind control, even though that would never specifically target the mind - it's the body and the brain that were forcibly changed. 

3)What's an ambitious bioengineer with no morals without a zombie virus. How realistic would it be? All these assumes John studies/analyzes the species he wants to infect beforehand. Maybe even tailors his mutagens/viruses for specific races?