Blood Music

Blood Music is a science fiction novel by Greg Bear. Originally a short story (1983 in literature), it was later expanded to a novel (1985 in literature).

Scientists modify bacteria to allow them to rapidly process their own genetic material. This leads to them becoming self-aware. They begin to overwhelm the biosphere and assimilate humans.

The central premise of the novel is implausible as presented. The E. coli genome is only about 3 x 10⁶ base pairs, compared to on the order of 10¹¹ neurons in the human brain, so it is unlikely that the activity within a single bacterium could give rise to consciousness. Self-aware bacterial colonies would be more likely, but it is implausible that they would arise spontaneously.

However, the realistic treatment of biotechnology and the depiction of existence in a subjective realm where one's consciousness can be cloned and modified at will make this a prescient novel. It anticipates themes which were tackled by the postcyberpunk generation of writers. In particular, it is reminiscent of Permutation City[?], the Greg Egan novel which deals with computer-based consciousness.