I am really interested in having such discussion.
I think that finding real applications for DIYbio in everyday life is crucial, otherwise I'm afraid the whole movement might soon end up like a soap bubble.
I think that finding real applications for DIYbio in everyday life is crucial, otherwise I'm afraid the whole movement might soon end up like a soap bubble.
And this applies especially if you don't have, as you say, PhDs around which are motivated into carrying on a personal project.
1.The educational aspect of DIYbio is for sure valuable, but I guess it is not what people think when they hear DIYbio and biohacking.
2.Understanding life, I would redefine it as "exploratory" is closer to the hacker attitude, in that it tries to understand the functioning of a system that is normally unaccessible. Definitely a lot to do for hackers, however this requires some deeper understanding of the biology
3.4. is more about electronics rather than biology, which is good on one side because it is possible to convert skills that you already have, but on the other side I feel it's not dealing enough with biological matter.
The uncertain future of DIYbio I think is related to these 3 main challenges:
1. we are missing standardized parts. DIYbio misses the equivalent of nuts, bolts and electronic components. As a result it is much more difficult to build your own "devices" because you need to develop every single component.
2. we are missing applications. It requires a paradigm shift to start thinking in terms of biology and what biology can do for us. It is difficult because we are used to live in a world where electronics dominates.
3. we are missing specific regulations. Hacking, tinkering, making requires a design/build/test cycle and the same is true for biology. However, due to the inherent danger in tinkering with biology, the actual regulations in place which end up hindering this process because they are tuned on an industrial/academic environment. There is no defined legal space where people can try out things, test them, etc.
I think working on one of these challenges is crucial for the future of DIYbio.
In our small group in Heidelberg we are thinking a lot about interesting DIYbio project that can involve the maker community we are part of.
I think working on one of these challenges is crucial for the future of DIYbio.
In our small group in Heidelberg we are thinking a lot about interesting DIYbio project that can involve the maker community we are part of.
We are building up a panel of PCR protocols to help people to test food/plants/genes (there is quite some interest in it)
We are exploring the possibility of tinkering old food fermentation processes thanks to the modern knowledge in biology
We plan to build aquaponics systems and to enhance plant growth by selecting/evolving microbial strains involved in nitrogen fixation
We plan to start playing with bacterial fuel cells
On Saturday, 3 December 2016 17:22:49 UTC+1, 210jrd wrote:
OK, we have built our lab, fairly well equipped (lots of ebay and purchases from China and India!) and done some basic PCR and electrophoresis testing and even done a small class in Transformation/recombination and a "crime" class with Electrophoresis.My question to DIYBio groups in general is where do we go to plan out future development of a DIYBio group and keep interest of members with practical ongoing projects (Basically non-commercial) so that we don't just sit looking at this lovely equipment and have meetings discussing aspects of microbiology?The information on ongoing paths of DIYBio seems sparse at present and I for one would love to see more ideas coming in of a practical nature that will not break the bank. I do not wish to continually grow coloured e coli in Petri dishes.Many of us do not have the luxury of a MSc or PhD team leader and must advance in small steps but some advice from those moving ahead would be great. Garage based DIYBio has got to the stage where most equipment (other than sequencers) is now easily obtained. Chemicals and microbes are a cost factor but ideas for the future pathways of DIYBio are seemingly either vague or lacking. Input welcome and if you can disdainfully prove me wrong,with evidence, I will happily admit this topic to have been a waste of time. John D
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