Our basic knowledge of diseases and cancer will continue to grow through research advances with CRISPR-Cas9, paving the way for the discovery of more effective treatments. And CRISPR will enable developments in industrial, agricultural and ecological engineering that may parallel advances in human health and medicine.

India's northeastern state of Meghalaya ("Abode of the Clouds") is breathtaking with its tropical forests, lush green mountains and fluffy, white clouds. Unique to this wet and remote area are spectacular living root bridges.

There is less than a day to go before the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter.com hands hundreds of thousands of dollars to a controversial project for the widespread and unregulated distribution of over half a million extreme-bioengineered seeds. In my view Kickstarter could still do the right thing and refuse to fund this risky release.

Three biohackers from California have hijacked the Kickstarter machinery -- they have made Kickstarter the conduit for a nationwide release of untested, unregulated and unmonitored bioengineered organisms.