[DIYbio] Re: What Should I Know?

I'm maybe 4-5 months into any experience with synbio/biohacking. I have a few projects I'm now working on and in the running for some funding through the indieb.io accelerator program for one of 'em. I think the most critical resource you could have would be finding a biohacking space near you and just talking to the people who are working on stuff. Offer to help just to get experience with basic techniques of molecular biology. it will streamline your understanding like you wouldn't believe. If you really want to get into it, spend time with people who are actively part of the movement. Everyone I have met has been astoundingly supportive and willing to teach everything they know.

there are some good resources on ItunesU. Even though some of them are dated, supposedly not much has changed between current texts and those that came out in the early 90s/late 80s. 

But as it has been said here already, I think the best way to get a real understanding is by working on a project idea, doing the research, learning the terminology, reading papers, and wrapping your head around the process. the best way to learn is by just doing it.

On Tuesday, November 18, 2014 7:57:40 PM UTC-8, Travis Ireland wrote:

    I'm in the process of renewing all of my high school level science and math, and have become fascinated with this movement. I'm concentrating right now on building electronics, but I think if I knew where to start with synthetic biology, I could do some real good there.

    I started reviewing biology on Khan Academy, specifically genetics and DNA. I also am trying to figure out how to use GenoCAD, although I haven't made much headway. If I wanted to really get into this stuff, what are suggestions for a good knowledge base?