If we want to save the natural world, we’re going to have to change it

In this November 2021 article from The Washington Post, University of California Santa Cruz professor of ecology and evolution Beth Shapiro explores the power of synthetic biology to restore earth’s critical biodiversity. Citing the restoration of the functionally extinct American chestnut tree and the highly endangered black-footed ferret, Beth addresses the capability of human intervention to reverse the course of human-influenced environmental damage. This compelling piece addresses the controversial nature of synthetic biology as an avenue for restoration, and argues that ultimately, “If we want to save the natural world, we’re going to have to change it.”