A mass biotech DIY movement « Pimm
Posted: June 18th, 2008 | Author: Steve | Filed under: Technology | Tags: biology, Cognitive Surplus, DIY, DNA | View Comments
I continue to see more examples of the “cognitive surplus” combined with DIY culture. While more people are spending less and less time with passive pursuits, such as watching television, many of those same people are putting that time and energy into creative pursuits. Some of these pursuits, such as making videos to post on YouTube are purely for entertainment purposes, but, increasingly, cheap technology is allowing for “hobbies” which would traditionally fall under the rubric of science or manufacturing..
Today, we find biologist and blogger Attila Csordás writing about cheap technology allowing individuals to perform laboratory-quality biology experiments at home, referred to as “BioDIY”. Home labs can be had for as little as $2,000. Csordás gives an example of a “man who amplified his daughter’s DNA at home to help doctors figure out her genetic disorder.” He even suggests that it may be possible to isolate embryonic stem cells at home(!).
This development strikes me as both amazing and totally logical. It only makes sense that if computers can get cheaper and faster, other technologies will do the same. As I’ve written previously about similar achievements in 3-D printing, bringing technologies like these to individuals will spark a revolution in almost all areas of manufacturing and science.
