ABSTRACT
From healthcare and agriculture to consumer goods and energy, a confluence of technological advances in the biological sciences—decades in the making—are fueling a new wave of innovation that could have a significant impact on societies in the 21st century. These new capabilities and applications are already improving our response to global challenges from climate change to the management of disease. But these innovations come with profound risks. Considering the need for serious and sustained debate about how this technological revolution should proceed, this chapter assesses progress in these innovations, their potential for economic and societal impact, and the risks involved. The chapter concludes with a look at the potential implications for a range of stakeholders.
