Author: Maureen McHugh

Length: short story

First Publication: Return of the Dinosaurs anthology, 1997

What the Story is About: It’s basically a chicken ranch . . .

Part One • Part Two • Part Three

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Length: novellette

First Publication: Fantasy & Science Fiction, 2005

Awards: 2006 Theodore Sturgeon Award; 2006 Hugo nomination for best novelette

What the Story is About: Story set in a future where agribusiness companies tightly control all food production – calories – with their patented genetically engineered crops. One man had the knowledge that could break their monopoly.

There is a man who the calorie companies would like very much to find.” He tapped his balding head. “A very intelligent man. We want to help him.”
Lalji sucked in his breath. “A generipper?”
Shriram avoided Lalji’s eyes. “In a sense. A calorie man.”

Alternative story formats at Nightshade Books (Windup Stories, Stories from the World of the Windup Girl)

Author: Maxine McArthur

Length: short story

First Publication: Nor of Human Anthology, 2001

What the Story is About: A non-sentient livestock animal changed into a sentient alien – or did it?

Possum,’ he repeated slowly. ‘Turned into a possum?’

‘No, sir. He changed from a possum.’ They’re not really possums–they just scratch as bad.

Author: Anil Menon

Length: short story

First Publication: From The Trenches anthology, 2006

What the Story is About: Mr. Harris is a farmer who writes a column for the Hog Farmer’s Friend and explores the philosophy of industrial farming in a future with genetically enhanced pigs and terrorists spreading designer viruses.

Author: William King

Length: short story

First Publication: Dream Science Fiction, 1988

What the Story is About: An international team of bio-engineers must leave their experimental biodome on Mars.

Author: Paul Di Filippo

Length: short stories

First Publication: Interzone, 2006 and Shuteye For the Timebroker, 2006

What the Story is About: Short short stories based on surreal paintings by Todd Schorr. A few with a bioscience bent:
• The Deviled Egg
•  The Venus of Augmentation
• The Hunter-Gatherer

(Link button goes to Paul Di Filippo’s main fiction page, which lists all of his free stories)

Author: Rick Raphael

Length: short story

First Publication: Astounding Science Fiction (Analog), 1960

What the Story is About: Hetty Thompson’s cows are producing some very unusual milk …

Author: Gerald M. Weinberg

Length: short story

First Publication: Diamonds in the Sky Anthology, 2009

What the Story is About: What does the moon have to do with behavior?

Author: Vonda N. McIntyre

Length:  Short Story

First Publication: Nature 2005

What the Story is About: One of the single-page stories published by the scientific journal Nature as part of its “Futures” series, it takes a peek at what the future of the Earth might be like if optimized to serve humanity. .

Author: Charles Stross

Length: short story

First Publication: Live Without a Net Anthology, 2003

What the Story is About: A strange tale in which a farmer must confront a rogue genetically engineered farm.

You can listen to the audio version of this story at Escape Pod.

Author: Paul McAuley

Length: short story

First Publication: Interzone 1991

What the Story is About: Vignettes tell the story of the life of Evan, who grows up in a society where gene splicing and biotechnolgical techniques are commonplace.

Author: Mike Resnick

Length: short story

First Publication: Asimov’s Science Fiction 2002

Awards: Hugo Nomination for Best Short Story 2002

What the Story is About: Butterballs have been engineered to be almost perfectly edible. There are unforseen side effects of that engineering, however, that drove scientists MacDonald to depression.

Alternate story link.