Rewiring Nature With Synthetic Biology

Bioengineer Drew Endy shares his vision to reprogram biology as a precision manufacturer and possibly change civilization as we know it.

Did we talk about my pine tree? says Drew Endy. I nod. I have heard his pine tree spiel (and you will, too). So he turns to another example to make his point: a plastic garbage can near his office door. His plan is simple: fill up the can with sawdust, add some programmed wood fungus, as he calls it, and leave. I come back a week later, and I shake out all the extra loose sawdust and spent materials, and out comes my new laptop, he says. Are you serious?...

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Rewiring Nature With Synthetic Biology