The Spread of Do-It-Yourself Biotech

zrbyte writes "Are you an electronics hobbyist or a garden shed tinkerer? If so, then move aside, because there's a new kid on the block: the DIY biotechnologist. The decreasing price of biotech instrumentation has made it possible for everyday folks (read: biotech geeks) with a few thousand dollars to spare to equip their garages and parents' basements with the necessary 'tools of the trade.' Some, like PCR machines, are available on eBay; other utensils are hacked together from everyday appliances and some creativity. For example: microscopes out of webcams and armpit E. coli incubators. Nature News has an article on the phenomenon, describing the weird and wonderful fruits of biotech geek ingenuity, like glow-in-the-dark yogurt. One could draw parallels with the early days of computer building/programming. It may be that we're looking at a biotech revolution, not just from the likes of Craig Venter, but from Joe-next-door hacking away at his E. coli strain. What are the Steve Wozniaks of biotech working on right now?"

Glow-in-the-dark yogurt?

[migloo]

Glow-in-the-dark slippers would be more useful.

biotch?

[donnyspi]

Am I the only one who read this headline as "The Spread of Do-It-Yourself, Biotch!"

Re:Just great...

[andrea.sartori]

The parallel with computer programming looks even more appropriate now that I read this.

Re:Glow in the dark

[Jesus_666]

Somehow I don't think a man with the awesome power of yoghurt would be particularly fearsome. What can he do? Get eaten by other people and aid their immune system?