We have come far, in hardly more than one term of parliament. Genomics is moving so fast that it must form part of a sensible political strategy. People must be made to realise that the concerns of the anti-GM lobby, while perhaps of passing relevance, are distracting. The fact is that we will have a power almost godlike, and we must come to terms with it in a positive, forward-looking spirit. This power will be conferred on us whether we want it or not - the damage has been done once the idea has been framed.
Technical realisation is just a matter of cleaning up.
Like David Bowman, we have yet to learn even to stretch our wings. But we will think of something. Henry Gee is a senior editor of Nature and writes its science fiction column, Futures.