From the Town Hall web site, "Imagine a microbe that could convert corn into plastic—almost like brewing beer—or a bacteria that could purify sewage in a process that generates electricity. A few years ago, those scenarios would have been science fiction—but today they’re quickly becoming a reality. And that’s just the beginning, says Harvard Medical School Genetics Professor George Church. The co-author of Regenesis points to nanotechnology and genome engineering as emerging fields that have led us to the threshold of a new era of bioengineering. Imagine bioengineering plants to produce plastic in specific shapes (like a drinking cup … or a house); resurrecting extinct species; or making humans immune to all viruses. It’s a once-incredible new world filled with possibilities—and perhaps perils. Presented by Town Hall and University Book Store as part of The Seattle Science Lectures, sponsored by Microsoft."