Biohackers set up own lab independent of corporations or academia in NYC
29 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17033379[/url]
Video's in the link, here's the blurb under it.
[release]A group of researchers has created the first community-run biology laboratory in New York City.
The lab is an effort to provide a home for amateur scientists, as well as professionals looking for a space away from academia and business.
The co-founder of Genspace says it is "crucial that this lab exists" in order to foster creativity in the sciences.
The BBC's Matt Danzico visited the Brooklyn facility, which originally opened in late 2010, at a building home to a range of professionals ranging from designers to pastry chefs.[/release]
Equipment off of eBay? Open door policy? Community run? I'm in love, this is what science should be.
Aaand we have the origin for the artificial disease which will one day kill all humans.
Or turn everyone gay.
Or, this could be source of future cheap medicine unhindered by corporal greed.
Only time will tell.
[sp]I am personally hoping for the middle possibility[/sp]
Good. Now if they can get their hold on all those amazing research break-throughs that we see come by once, then never hear from again.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;34710323]Aaand we have the origin for the artificial disease which will one day kill all humans.
Or turn everyone gay.
Or, this could be source of future cheap medicine unhindered by corporal greed.
Only time will tell.
[sp]I am personally hoping for the middle possibility[/sp][/QUOTE]
I was thinking more educating people who want to learn about these things but lack the time/money for college or uni.
Really? This is what art and hacking should be, not science in my opinion. The reason scientific education takes so long is because it is extremely specialized. I think this is a noble idea that is ultimately going to fail. But I am rooting for them just the same, just because they are bringing science to everyone and raising awareness.
[QUOTE=Rents;34710398]I was thinking more educating people who want to learn about these things but lack the time/money for college or uni.[/QUOTE]
It's a lab, not a study or library. You can get most of the information from open sources. It's the equipment that's hard to reach without having access to an institute/corporal funds.
[editline]15th February 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Fetret;34710411]Really? This is what art and hacking should be, not science in my opinion. The reason scientific education takes so long is because it is extremely specialized. I think this is a noble idea that is ultimately going to fail. But I am rooting for them just the same, just because they are bringing science to everyone and raising awareness.[/QUOTE]
Again, this is a lab. It's not that much for educating, but of research of things nobody would allow/fund otherwise.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;34710431]It's a lab, not a study or library. You can get most of the information from open sources. It's the equipment that's hard to reach without having access to an institute/corporal funds.
[editline]15th February 2012[/editline]
Again, this is a lab. It's not that much for educating, but of research of things nobody would allow/fund otherwise.[/QUOTE]
Education is finding out things already known, research is finding things that aren't, same end goal if you ask me.
[QUOTE=Rents;34710485]Education is finding out things already known, research is finding things that aren't, same end goal if you ask me.[/QUOTE]
One requires dedication. The other requires dedication and big amount of resources/equipment.
One can be done mostly on your own. The later needs support.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;34710575]One requires dedication. The other requires dedication and big amount of resources/equipment.
One can be done mostly on your own. The later needs support.[/QUOTE]
And this is somewhere that you can get that support? I don't understand what you're trying to argue.
[QUOTE=Rents;34710599]And this is somewhere that you can get that support? I don't understand what you're trying to argue.[/QUOTE]Unless they've got a few million sitting around, they're going to have trouble getting good equipment. Scientific equipment in general is extremely expensive because of how precise it needs to be.
Cool idea, but I'm not really sure this is the field for this sort of thing.
"Equipment off of eBay? Open door policy? Community run?" sounds like a recipe for a disaster in the sciences.
this is rad as shit, next time i'm in ny i'll have to check it out
Read title as bioshockers set up lab
This is relevant to my interests
I can't help but think this kind of as the Berkley Homebrew Computer Club of biology.
Something great will come from this, be it a breakthrough or just people getting to practice biology.
Yes everyone just go there and become a scientist!
[QUOTE=Rents;34710269][url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17033379[/url]
Video's in the link, here's the blurb under it.
[release]A group of researchers has created the first community-run biology laboratory in New York City.
The lab is an effort to provide a home for amateur scientists, as well as professionals looking for a space away from academia and business.
The co-founder of Genspace says it is "crucial that this lab exists" in order to foster creativity in the sciences.
The BBC's Matt Danzico visited the Brooklyn facility, which originally opened in late 2010, at a building home to a range of professionals ranging from designers to pastry chefs.[/release]
Equipment off of eBay? Open door policy? Community run? I'm in love, this is what science should be.[/QUOTE]
This is obviously a hacker-space for biological experimentation, which is freaking cool. I'm part of a hackerspace in Arizona, and we let people who want to engineer whatever they want just pop right in with their own materials and use our stuff. It's really incredible what people come up with when they're free to work without the constraints of a boss or school watching over them.
[QUOTE=overpain;34711002]Read title as bioshockers set up lab[/QUOTE]
3 years from now splicers flood NYC.
Suddenly Zombies!
if they allow human experimentation without IRBs this might go to shit quickly.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;34713330]3 years from now splicers flood NYC.[/QUOTE]I don't think anyone would notice.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;34713849]if they allow human experimentation without IRBs this might go to shit quickly.[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure that's illegal to do anyway, you are allowed to do that kind of thing on yourself though, strangely.
[editline]15th February 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;34713330]3 years from now splicers flood NYC.[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure there's already violent addicts all over place there.
[QUOTE=Rents;34713967]I'm pretty sure that's illegal to do anyway, you are allowed to do that kind of thing on yourself though, strangely.[/QUOTE]
IRBs tend to be university based, and I don't think you can develop anything near the level of a pharma company without human testing.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;34713330]3 years from now splicers flood NYC.[/QUOTE]
Plasmids !
Zombie virus here we come!
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;34713990]IRBs tend to be university based, and I don't think you can develop anything near the level of a pharma company without human testing.[/QUOTE]
I doubt anyone is going to create and completely test a new drug in this place, besides, once you've got proof that in works in-vitro it'd be a lot easier to get someone to hire you or give you the funding you'd need for that kind of work.
[QUOTE=Rents;34713967]I'm pretty sure that's illegal to do anyway, you are allowed to do that kind of thing on yourself though, strangely.[/QUOTE]It's far more ethical to experiment on oneself than someone else, especially if it's risky. Many discoveries that needed human experimentation have been made that way.
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;34710646]Unless they've got a few million sitting around, they're going to have trouble getting good equipment. Scientific equipment in general is extremely expensive because of how precise it needs to be.[/QUOTE]
I think some of the coolest things that will come out of this will be ingenious ways of doing without the specialized equipment.
[QUOTE=Hivemind;34717192]I think some of the coolest things that will come out of this will be ingenious ways of doing without the specialized equipment.[/QUOTE]
That's the problem though. It's not like companies, universities and research teams are going "Hey I have so much money laying around, I am going to use it to buy extremely specialized, precise equipment that requires training to use properly". If there is/was a way to something cheaper without resorting to specialized equipment make no mistake people figure it out.
[QUOTE=Rents;34714561]I doubt anyone is going to create and completely test a new drug in this place, besides, once you've got proof that in works in-vitro it'd be a lot easier to get someone to hire you or give you the funding you'd need for that kind of work.[/QUOTE]
then they buy the IP and let it smolder for 20 years, exactly what this is against?
[editline]15th February 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;34715733]It's far more ethical to experiment on oneself than someone else, especially if it's risky. Many discoveries that needed human experimentation have been made that way.[/QUOTE]
however while that's good for discovery it's not good for R&D since results need to be repeatable.
Plus you won't get many cures that way since if you have some diseases you won't be "fit" enough to be doing research
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