Strange Natures: Conservation in the Era of Synthetic Biology

A groundbreaking examination of the implications of synthetic biology for biodiversity conservation   “What is natural and what is artificial in the era of the Anthropocene? This is the core question addressed by Kent Redford and William Adams’ book, Strange Natures. . . . 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.

About the Author :
Kent H. Redford is Principal at Archipelago Consulting and has worked for The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society. William M. Adams is Emeritus Moran Chair of Conservation and Development at the University of Cambridge.

Review :
CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2022 “Brilliant, challenging and fresh: Kent Redford and Bill Adams’s focus on genetics as a means of conservation raises fascinating ethical and scientific questions, and helps us understand why we so often fail.”—Fiona Reynolds, author of The Fight for Beauty “A fantastic, readable primer on genetic technologies for conservationists and on conservation for geneticists—with the ultimate aim of charting an ethical course forward for both fields.”—Emma Marris, author of Rambunctious Garden and Wild Souls “Strange Natures is a ground-breaking work, the first book to investigate the multiple challenging questions of synthetic biology in biodiversity conservation for a broad audience.”—Thomas Brooks, International Union for the Conservation of Nature “At last: Strange Natures goes to the very heart of the intersection of gene technology, conservation and ethics. Kent Redford and Bill Adams are thoughtful, sure-footed guides through this scientific and ethical thicket. An amazing book!”—Thomas E. Lovejoy, University Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University “An essential guide to the future of nature; a future that you may not know is already underway. Strange Natures succinctly introduces a most urgent dilemma that all life has a stake in.”—Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, artist/ lead author of Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature