Summary

In "Into the Wild," Chapter 3, the author describes the character Odin. In Norse mythology, Odin "is an extremely powerful god who's also a trickster" (114). A company "that sells genetic-engineering kits" in Oakland, California, has borrowed this god's name (114). Odin was founded by self-proclaimed genetic designer Josiah Zayner (115). Zayner hopes to grant people "access to the resources they need to modify life in their spare time" (115).

Kolbert buys a "bacterial CRISPR and fluorescent yeast combo kit" (115). The kit inspires her thoughts on the history of genetic engineering. CRISPR, as explained by a University of California, Berkeley professor, allows humans "to rewrite the very molecules of life" (116).

Although Kolbert has "no experience in genetics," with the help of the kit's instructions, she is able "to create a novel organism" (116). She describes the process and its results.

After her visit with Van Oppen, Kolbert...