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Strange Natures: Conservation in the Era of Synthetic Biology
A groundbreaking examination of the implications of synthetic biology for biodiversity conservation
“It is impressive how the book manages to be so rich in perspectives on such a complex and controversial phenomenon, yet so cautiously and open-mindedly written that it invites contemplation and reflection rather than hasty conclusions.”—Adam Wickberg, Global Environmental Politics
Nature almost everywhere survives on human terms. The distinction between what is natural and what is human-made, which has informed conservation for centuries, has become blurred. When scientists can reshape genes more or less at will, what does it mean to conserve nature?
The tools of synthetic biology are changing the way we answer that question. Gene editing technology is already transforming the agriculture and biotechnology industries. What happens if synthetic biology is also used in conservation to control invasive species, fight wildlife disease, or even bring extinct species back from the dead?
Conservation scientist Kent Redford and geographer Bill Adams turn to synthetic biology, ecological restoration, political ecology, and de-extinction studies and propose a thoroughly innovative vision for protecting nature.
“It is impressive how the book manages to be so rich in perspectives on such a complex and controversial phenomenon, yet so cautiously and open-mindedly written that it invites contemplation and reflection rather than hasty conclusions.”—Adam Wickberg, Global Environmental Politics
Nature almost everywhere survives on human terms. The distinction between what is natural and what is human-made, which has informed conservation for centuries, has become blurred. When scientists can reshape genes more or less at will, what does it mean to conserve nature?
The tools of synthetic biology are changing the way we answer that question. Gene editing technology is already transforming the agriculture and biotechnology industries. What happens if synthetic biology is also used in conservation to control invasive species, fight wildlife disease, or even bring extinct species back from the dead?
Conservation scientist Kent Redford and geographer Bill Adams turn to synthetic biology, ecological restoration, political ecology, and de-extinction studies and propose a thoroughly innovative vision for protecting nature.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published June 22, 2021
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156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2022
Really interesting deep dive into the world of synthetic biology and its potential applications to sectors affecting wildlife and to conservation itself. The sections on the differences between different types of synthetic biology were a bit heavy but necessary. The book was balanced and gave thorough overview of the different risks and opportunities presented by the technologies. I particularly enjoyed the first two chapters and the final chapter, and thought the argument for “rewilding the genome” was particularly compelling. Would recommend to anyone interested in conservation in a changing world.
September 27, 2025
Anyone interested in ecology and conservation in the present day should read this book.
This is an excellent dive into ecology, conservation, and synthetic biology. It touches on some philosophy, especially the false natural/artificial dichotomy, but screams out for more analyses. That's really not a big point against it, given that it covers a lot of material in an accessible way in only 212 pages.
This is an excellent dive into ecology, conservation, and synthetic biology. It touches on some philosophy, especially the false natural/artificial dichotomy, but screams out for more analyses. That's really not a big point against it, given that it covers a lot of material in an accessible way in only 212 pages.
November 29, 2021
This is to my knowledge the first book which explores the intersection between synthetic biology and conservation, however, given the increasing collision of the two subjects, it won't be the last.
Throughout the book the authors explore, both, how synthetic biology (and more traditional genetic engineering practices) are a threat to conservation, but also how synthetic biology can be used to conserve and even expand biodiversity. Their commentary is balanced and never explicitly sides with the tech evangelists or the skeptics (although its clear they both see synthetic biology as a tool which should be considered).
As well as provided a great primer on recent advances in synthetic biology, Kent and Adams ask us to consider what we mean by 'nature' and 'conservation', two relatively new terms which seem to evolve faster than the species they cover.
While there is a lot in the book to be hopeful about, having recently read Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, I can't help being simultaneously filled with a sense of dread about the unintended consequences of very smart people, with well meaning intentions.....
Throughout the book the authors explore, both, how synthetic biology (and more traditional genetic engineering practices) are a threat to conservation, but also how synthetic biology can be used to conserve and even expand biodiversity. Their commentary is balanced and never explicitly sides with the tech evangelists or the skeptics (although its clear they both see synthetic biology as a tool which should be considered).
As well as provided a great primer on recent advances in synthetic biology, Kent and Adams ask us to consider what we mean by 'nature' and 'conservation', two relatively new terms which seem to evolve faster than the species they cover.
While there is a lot in the book to be hopeful about, having recently read Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, I can't help being simultaneously filled with a sense of dread about the unintended consequences of very smart people, with well meaning intentions.....
November 13, 2025
They should use this as a biology textbook. Though, sure, a good bit of it is simply describing or restating concepts that students who have taken the subject before would know.
Thing is, a lot of more recent concepts like CRISPR and De-Extinction are discussed here, with quite a few concepts that anyone interested in conservation should be familiar with. As such, if you know nothing about this subject, this would be a good textbook!
Thing is, a lot of more recent concepts like CRISPR and De-Extinction are discussed here, with quite a few concepts that anyone interested in conservation should be familiar with. As such, if you know nothing about this subject, this would be a good textbook!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews