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