Re: [Lhs-biohacking] [hello] iGEM 2016
Paddy Smith
I have few thoughts. No really.
The self-cloning exception makes it possible to do a hello world gfp transformation in K12 e.coli without needing GMO CL1. So that hurdle is not as high as it looks.
Similarly, PCR and gel electrophoresis on agarose with gel green or similar (not polyacrylamide, EthBr and UV) is surely safe enough for the mythical reasonably mature, properly supervised school child.
Neither of these is too big a time commitment or too expensive to be practical.
Students at IB Higher Biology (and I would assume A level) learn enough molecular biology for such practical work to be appropriate.
Not so long ago there was a news article about a 17 year old who built an pcr cycler and went to Oxford. ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2304413/Teenager-astounds-scientists-building-DNA-testing-machine-bedroom--did-discover-brother-ginger.html)
I understand from biohackers across the pond that these things are routinely taught at secondary level in the USA.
So why doesn't it happen here more? (Or perhaps it does?)
London Biohackers participated in the "Public Biobrick" exercise with UCL iGem team in 2012 (http://www.wired.co.uk/article/synthetic-biology)
When a team from our lab entered iGem in 2014, that was the first time iGem was accepting community team entries.
In Europe anti-GM sentiment and legislation has perhaps had a chilling effect.
Post 9/11 there is some real sensitivity state-side around potential security misunderstandings. The FBI had been running some great outreach, but then there was Snowden.
Now we have CRISPR and the FDA is clearing knock-outs in 3 months flat.
But academia is still sorting out its paywall mess, and textbooks are years out of date.
Maybe everything is going so fast that something has to give. Perhaps this is like the bay area in the late 70s. Or perhaps I just need a few months rapture with my pipette ;-)
I am still waiting for the BBC thermocycler ...
Paddy
--Hello my name's Dan and I'm a first year biosciences student at Exeter university. I'm part of our iGEM team this year and as part of our human practices we are trying to address the gap between funding in syn bio and its' absence in the school curriculum. We would love to chat about our ideas for disseminating syn bio to the public as well as teaching it in schools and get your take as a community lab on what you think is lacking and how best to increase awareness and understanding of synthetic biology.
All the best from Exeter
Dan
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Paddy Smith
With apologies to Sim, errata and a citation
In the 6th para, should read "news" (in quotes)
CRISPR and FDA is, of course, the mushrooms (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gene-edited-crispr-mushroom-escapes-u-s-regulation/). "clearing" should be "waving through" and, okay, maybe the first one was 6 months.
Paddy