Our Biological Future : A Crossroads for Life, Health, and the Planet

A clear-eyed vision of the opportunities and risks that shape our biological future. Biology is no longer merely something we observe; it is increasingly something we can design. From medicine and manufacturing to national security and climate resilience, advances in the life sciences will shape how we live, work, and respond to some of our world's most pressing challenges. Yet public conversations about biotechnology often swing between utopian promises and catastrophic fears, obscuring the choices that will determine how these powerful technologies are used. In Our Biological Future, Gigi Kwik Gronvall cuts through the hype to explain what biology is making possible, which risks are real, and why our choices matter. Drawing on decades of work in biosecurity and public health, Gronvall explains how advances in genetics, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology are transforming medicine, agriculture, national security, and the global economy. She explores how breakthroughs in biology can improve lives while examining the real risks that accompany rapid scientific progress. Rather than viewing innovation as either inherently dangerous or unquestionably beneficial, she provides readers with the tools to understand the scientific, political, and ethical questions that will define the decades ahead. Whether the next breakthroughs in biology lead to healthier lives, more secure societies, or greater global instability will depend not only on scientific discoveries, but on the decisions we make. Our Biological Future equips readers to understand those choices—and help shape the future they will create.