Once we can manipulate our genome, Lamarckian fashion, the rate of change will be staggering. - J. Doyne Farmer

The paradox that immediately bothers everyone who learns about the second law is this: If systems tend to become more disordered, why, then, do we see so much order around us? ...It seems to conflict with our "creation myth": In the beginning, there was a big bang. ...no one is saying that the second law of thermodynamics is wrong, just that there is a contrapuntal process organizing things at a higher level.

Even though something like Danny Hillis' "connection machine" is big, it's nothing compared with Avogadro's number of processors that nature has at her disposal.

If we choose, we can use genetic engineering to alter the character of our offspring. ...the motivation to do this will eventually become overwhelming.