WIB-Chicago: June Book Club

WIB-Chicago Chapter gathered for a discussion of Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, selected as a non-traditional summer read. Attendees explored the novel's themes of genetic engineering, scientific ethics, wealth inequality, and the commercialization of biotechnology, reflecting on how many of Atwood's once-speculative ideas feel increasingly relevant in today's world of CRISPR, gene editing, and AI.

A highlight of the discussion was the participation of Joanne Kamens, Women In Bio's new CEO, who shared her perspective on the novel as it was first published in 2003. She reflected on how the story felt like distant speculative fiction at the time, but now resonates as an unsettling commentary on the rapid pace of scientific innovation. Drawing on her experience leading Addgene during the rise of CRISPR, Joanne offered valuable insights into the promise of genome engineering alongside the challenges of equitable access to transformative therapies.

The conversation also examined the ethical questions raised throughout the novel, including the role of capitalism in shaping scientific progress, the affordability of gene therapies, and the need for thoughtful guardrails around emerging technologies such as embryo editing and genetic enhancement. Participants connected the book's fictional world to ongoing advances in biotechnology, from xenotransplantation using genetically modified pigs to efforts to extend healthy aging, while discussing how society can balance innovation with responsibility.

The lively discussion reinforced why Oryx and Crake remains such a compelling read more than two decades after its publication, encouraging scientists and non-scientists alike to consider not only what science can achieve, but also what it should achieve.

Submitted by Anna Di Staulo