Amateurs Are Trying Genetic Engineering At Home

the_kanzure points out this AP story on amateur genetic engineering, excerpting: "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." Reader resistant has a few ideas about how to use this sort of lab: "Personally, I'd like to whip up a reasonably long-lasting and durable paint made with dye based on squid genes that glows brightly enough to allow 'guide lines' to be daubed along hallway baseboards, powered by a very low trickle of electricity. Plus, a harmless glowing yogurt would make for a cool prank."

Comments

How long until

[unity100]

some fool breeds a deadly unstoppable strain of a new virus/bacteria in his garage ?

genetics is no I.T. computers cant harm people, websites cant kill people. you can confiscate computers, you can take down websites. genetics is no joke.

Re:Is this legal?

[calmofthestorm]

hahahahaha funny.

Seriously though, genmod crops are grown in open-pollinated fields. I don't see how DIY could be _any_ worse.