Can humanity trust the small group of elite scientists currently wielding the power to fundamentally rewrite the biological code of life? David Ewing Duncan, an award-winning journalist, investigates the lives and motivations of the world's most prominent geneticists and biotechnologists. By profiling these figures, the author explores the intersection of scientific ambition, personal eccentricity, and the profound ethical implications of technologies that promise to extend human longevity and create synthetic life.

The text provides a journalistic examination of the personalities driving modern genetics, framing their work within a broader context of societal risk and scientific progress. It serves as an accessible entry point for readers interested in the intersection of human ambition and the future of biological engineering.