Some people say that God created hu-manity in his own image, but did so in a rather slipshod fashion. Modern biotechnology now allows us to examine and study ourselves and other living things all the way down to the molecular level. Once we finish putting together the data and work out the necessary techniques, we'll be able to prevent major hereditary diseases and cure contagious and chronic illnesses. We may even be able to create people, and make a better job of it than our creator did!

The American scientist Warren Weaver coined the term "molecular biology" for the field sometimes known as the "quantum mechanics of biology" in 1938. The later invention of the electron microscope helped the field along by providing scientists with a truly molecular perspective on biological processes.

Humanity has long since moved beyond the limitations of experience and the naked eye, and can now further its pursuit of the mystery of life's many processes through direct observation of the environment in which cells exist, their genetic code (both DNA and RNA), and the intertwinings and metamorphoses of proteins. In recent years, biotechnology has spurred great leaps in medicine, agriculture (genetically modified organisms), and even energy (bioenergy). In fact, biotech may well end up replacing information technology as the leading industry of the 21st century.

Biotech has an incredibly broad reach, but its crown jewel-and riskiest pursuit-is the development of new pharmaceuticals for human use.

According to foreign institutional investors, developing a new biopharmaceutical and bringing it market takes an average of 10 years and costs roughly US$300 million. The industry's value chain is so long that the purchases and resales of drug rights at intermediate stages of development are common, as are outright acquisitions.

But the Taiwanese business community, in spite of its many global successes over the course of the last 50 years, has never had much success with pharmaceuticals. Even the push into biotech over the last 20 years has so far failed to yield a new drug. Will the government's new efforts to promote biotech and new pharmaceuticals turn out to be just so much pie in the sky?

This kind of doubt does exist, but in fact biotech is certain to become a standout industry. Like green energy and the creative and cultural industries, it may require that we move away from our past strengths, but we must nonetheless forge ahead if we are to hold our own in the global competition of the next century. This month's cover story "A Piece of the Biotech Pie" delves into this ongoing process.

The government's determination to move things forward can be seen in its willingness to listen and partner with industry. It also plans to inaugurate the new Taiwan Food and Drug Administration at the start of next year to help new biopharmaceuticals negotiate the long and stringent review process, and has already begun providing guidance to businesses in an effort to reduce the risks and obstacles they face.

Then there's the H1N1 flu virus. Two Taiwan Panorama colleagues were recently confined to their homes for five days after their children contracted the new flu at school. What makes H1N1 such a monster? Why is the public so frightened? Are our fears reasonable? Some clarification is in order.

This month's issue also includes stories on reconstruction work underway in the earthquake-stricken areas of Jialan (Taitung County) and Namasiya (Kaohsiung County). The differences in the earthquake-response measures in the two places (Jialan evacuated before the flood, Namasiya did not and suffered heavy casualties) and in experience (Jialan learned from Typhoon Haitang; Namasiya had no such experience to draw on) have resulted in very different results in the process of reconstruction.

The disharmony among the three villages in Namisiya over whether to relocate or not stands in marked contrast to the enthusiastic assistance Jialan's residents are providing to nearby villages. The bickering among the Aborigines may seem trivial, but trivialities are often crucially important, and bear watching.

In this "autumn of our discontent"-the Cabinet reshuffle, the sentencing of the former president to life imprisonment, the halting of work on the Alishan Hotel and Taipei Dome BOT projects, and the possible turnover of the high-speed rail system to the government-Taiwan Panorama would like to take a moment to wish everyone well.