Say Goodbye to Darwinian Evolution

Freeman Dyson is a venerated physicist. He claims that it is time to say goodbye to Darwinian evolution within the next fifty years. He believes that biotechnology will pervade everyday life. This idea is not new in itself, but Dyson paints the picture with uncommon clarity. According to Dyson many of our chemical industries will be replaced by "Green" industries.

Green technology could replace most of our existing chemical industries and a large part of our mining and manufacturing industries. Genetically engineered earthworms could extract common metals such as aluminum and titanium from clay, and genetically engineered seaweed could extract magnesium or gold from seawater. Green technology could also achieve more extensive recycling of waste products and worn-out machines, with great benefit to the environment. An economic system based on green technology could come much closer to the goal of sustainability, using sunlight instead of fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. New species of termite could be engineered to chew up derelict automobiles instead of houses, and new species of tree could be engineered to convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into liquid fuels instead of cellulose.

However how we are supposed to proceed from today, where biotechnology is sparse, to the tomorrow of prevalent biotechnology is still up for debate.

Dyson also claims that Darwinian evolution is coming to an end:

We are moving rapidly into the post-Darwinian era, when species other than our own will no longer exist, and the rules of Open Source sharing will be extended from the exchange of software to the exchange of genes. Then the evolution of life will once again be communal, as it was in the good old days before separate species and intellectual property were invented.

I'm skeptical, but it's an interesting read anyway. Check out the entire article:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/20370

I'm skeptical as well, especially with the gene-sharing. There will be a lot of people resisting, not to mention corporations will be wanting to keep anything from becoming 'Open Source'. I don't think evolution will ever become 'Communal' again, I'm pretty sure that bridge has long been burned.

The green economy thing in your first quote is interesting though, those would be some pretty serious tasks for biological engineering.

Yea, while Dyson may be a renowned physicist, he's too much of a futurist for me.

Honestly, that seems to have quite a bit of Transcendent thought, too much to be realistic.

I think he underestimates the greed of humanity.

I could see it happening in socialist societies, however. While corporations don't really have any incentive to switch over to green technology, governments might.

Honestly, I don't think our government would switch if the Corps weren't interested. There's entirely too much influence there.

Interesting theory but a bit dramatic. Even if we have rampant biotech that is certainly not going to stop humans from making and keeping furry creatures with pleasant or exaggerated features for their amusement.

I see a battle going on between "intellect" and natural order (even though we all know who has the upper hand ). We build everything around us to keep out big scary dangerous nature. Watching commercials for disinfectants worries me even more. We are going to kill ourselves with this healthcare business. :/

Anyway this rant is too fuckin' disjointed to make sense!

Cannot stop Darwinian Evolution or Natural Selection. At the risk of sounding lame(er) nature always finds a way.

I will always be more powerful than biotechnology.

My friend, you are biotechnology!