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I have no idea what this does or how it works, but it looks really cool. We've put microchips of all kinds into the hands of people to make them electrical eng

I have no idea what this does or how it works, but it looks really cool. We've put microchips of all kinds into the hands of people to make them electrical engineers. Let's do the same for biology and make some more scientists.

FredFS456 5y ago
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is the standard procedure for duplicating DNA, which is a critical step to many different protocols, including COVID tests (real-time PCR) and DNA sequencing. This device is a miniaturized thermo cycler, which heats up and cools down a sample in a small test tube according to a pre-programmed sequence. Heating/cooling cycles are necessary for the enzymes involved in PCR to do their jobs.
hrjjfjfjr 5y ago
VirusAsAService, coming to a maker lab near you...
- _Microft 5y ago
  This is a snarky way to express a valid concern of progress and ‚democratization’ of technology in general, namely that increasing capabilities of individuals can endanger an ever larger number of people. So far we have been lucky but I’m not convinced that this (increasing power of individuals, not only diy-biology) might not turn out as being the Great Filter.
  - koeng 5y ago
    Democratization works both ways. The more people who can build, the more people who can cure. From COVID19, at least, I think we need more people who can cure. Also I can’t really imagine a biological mechanism that can lead to human extinction that can’t be solved with technology, so that would probably be a tough nut to crack.
    - suifbwish 5y ago
      The problem is you only need one insane individual or group to abuse the technology once to make something extremely contagious with a 2 month incubation period that has a 99% lethality. We simply can’t rely on trusting the good of humanity on this one.
weinzierl 5y ago
The FAQ seems to answer that you can't use it for COVID tests. Are there resources out there for beginner friendly experiments you can do with this kit?
suifbwish 5y ago
Sorry but the idea of abstracting bio hacking for the unwashed masses seems like a horrible idea. Sequencing and info extraction sure, but you don’t want Joe Dirt having an automated way to synthesize anything that can augment biological processes.
- spicybright 5y ago
  I don't think this device can do any of that, right?

FredFS456 5y ago

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is the standard procedure for duplicating DNA, which is a critical step to many different protocols, including COVID tests (real-time PCR) and DNA sequencing. This device is a miniaturized thermo cycler, which heats up and cools down a sample in a small test tube according to a pre-programmed sequence. Heating/cooling cycles are necessary for the enzymes involved in PCR to do their jobs.

hrjjfjfjr 5y ago

VirusAsAService, coming to a maker lab near you...

_Microft 5y ago
This is a snarky way to express a valid concern of progress and ‚democratization’ of technology in general, namely that increasing capabilities of individuals can endanger an ever larger number of people. So far we have been lucky but I’m not convinced that this (increasing power of individuals, not only diy-biology) might not turn out as being the Great Filter.
- koeng 5y ago
  Democratization works both ways. The more people who can build, the more people who can cure. From COVID19, at least, I think we need more people who can cure. Also I can’t really imagine a biological mechanism that can lead to human extinction that can’t be solved with technology, so that would probably be a tough nut to crack.
  - suifbwish 5y ago
    The problem is you only need one insane individual or group to abuse the technology once to make something extremely contagious with a 2 month incubation period that has a 99% lethality. We simply can’t rely on trusting the good of humanity on this one.

weinzierl 5y ago

The FAQ seems to answer that you can't use it for COVID tests. Are there resources out there for beginner friendly experiments you can do with this kit?

suifbwish 5y ago

Sorry but the idea of abstracting bio hacking for the unwashed masses seems like a horrible idea. Sequencing and info extraction sure, but you don’t want Joe Dirt having an automated way to synthesize anything that can augment biological processes.

spicybright 5y ago
I don't think this device can do any of that, right?