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Amateurs are trying genetic engineering at home


SAN FRANCISCO – The Apple computer was invented in a garage. Same with the Google search engine. Now, tinkerers are working at home with the basic building blocks of life itself.

Using homemade lab equipment and the wealth of scientific knowledge available online, these hobbyists are trying to create new life forms through genetic engineering — a field long dominated by Ph.D.s toiling in university and corporate laboratories. In her San Francisco dining room lab, for example, 31-year-old computer programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly.

"People can really work on projects for the good of humanity while learning about something they want to learn about in the process," she said.

So far, no major gene-splicing discoveries have come out anybody's kitchen or garage. But critics of the movement worry that these amateurs could one day unleash an environmental or medical disaster. Defenders say the future Bill Gates of biotech could be developing a cure for cancer in the garage.

(Full article here).

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ORIGINAL: Aileen1968

Well this explains the whole other half of the family....

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ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

"Gene hacking" has been around for at least 15 years, maybe more. You can often find genetic splicing equipment on ebay. It's really no more expensive, or time consuming a hobby that running a model Railroad, or getting seriously into computers.

Experimenting with new forms of life "can't hurt?" Hummm... obviously this poster has never read the first few chapters of Steven King's "The Stand"...

The religious nutcases are so friggin worred about experimentation stem cells... too bad they aren't thinking about what the irresponsible "mad scientist" is doing in his garage across town, tinkering with entirely new forms of cellular life, and viruses. If they did, maybe they'd realize how fucked up their priorities really are.

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ORIGINAL: CatdeMedici

why is this so bad? Einstein could not put his sweaters on right side out, Edison found electricity in his home lab--the sugar cane process was developed by a free man of color---common people for ages have discovered uncommon things---we have become a generation of snobs---no degree equates to no brains-- no common sense equates to no capabilty- and discovery of certain evolved things MUST be reserved for the elite---well remember, the person who graduates last in medical school is still called Dr. I'd a lot rather people who have the drive, the balls and the smarts but are rejected-- work on something at home to promote things than nothing happen--oh and those who would say, "OMG they are the terrorists!"---C'mon honey, terrorists will appear in or out of labs-chances are faster in labs where they have all the tools, equipment and brains.
 
IMHO