A virus genetically altered to become a revolutionary medicine; it sounds like the beginning of a disaster movie. And yet, scientists are hard at work to make this a reality. How far along are they? What makes this technique so promising? And is it really safe?
To find answers, Mei-Li Nieuwland struggled through scientific publications, listened with raised eyebrows to presentations from optimistic pharmaceutical entrepreneurs, and asked her down-to-earth friend, a biochemist, what it all meant. The result is a story that briefly touches on different aspects of this field, giving an introduction to synthetic virology.
