This project is a loonshot, but this type of DARPA approach to science is meant to accelerate the creation of new technologies and open the door to more realistic outcomes. I don't think we'll see Mammoths anytime soon, but finding a way to edit a million DNA letters in a single cell would have numerous applications in human health.

As society works to cope with a global pandemic, this piece offers a timely pause to reflect on the role of the modern expert and the current technological frameworks that may be redefining expertise.