Change Agent

by Daniel Suarez

“You should invest now. I would invest more if I could. You are fortunate to be men of means.” “Invest. In biotech?” “No. In genomic sequences.” Durand and Frey looked at each other. “I would immediately purchase my own genomic sequence at the very least.” He glanced back again. “Before someone else does. Personally, I’d rather own a slightly inferior genetic sequence than lease a more desirable one.” Durand narrowed his eyes. “What in hell’s name are you talking about? The Treaty on Genetic Modification is—” “Is a relic. Live editing will render germ line editing moot. Genetic edits can be reversed—even in mature organisms. The TGM is a dead letter—and quite soon.” Frey interceded as he apparently noticed Durand was getting agitated. “Humor me, here. What exactly are you saying?” “The international legal groundwork is being laid, copyrighting and patenting genomic sequences for proprietary algae, bacteria, and yeast organisms—the factories of the fourth industrial revolution.” “What does that have to do with human beings?” “DNA is DNA. Merely information. Which means that human beings are merely information. And there is a long-established legal precedent that information can be owned.”