Will life sciences be a driving force of the 21st century economy?

To launch a significant life sciences effort today, one has to bring together the leading edge of many disciplines, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, and pharmacology. A millennia ago, the leading practitioners of life sciences lived in the Arabic-speaking world. Why was so much talent lost and might it be rebuilt for peaceful use someday? What might this example imply for other developing countries as the life sciences revolution goes forward?