4 ms·

Ask HN:Any biohacker here? I want to get help.

8 points by guojh0570 14y ago

Hi you guys, recently I've read the book (DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life). And then I have a deep interest in biohacking. I'm a coding amateur. So here are my questions: 1, Is it hard to become a biohacker? Need a lot of knowledge of biology? 2, Do I need buy something really matters? Like something to do PCR and cell culture. If so, how much it will take? Very eager to get your reply.

jcr 14y ago
Sorry, I'm not a biohacker, so I really don't know jack about your field of interest. I do know that I don't see much biohacking stuff on hn, so your question might be better directed towards a more specialized forum? I do know there are hacker spaces specific to biohacking, and they usually have strong communities around them. One here in the silicon valley is called BioCurious. http://biocurious.org/ http://biocurious.org/
- guojh0570 14y ago
  Thank you for replying, I've visited some websites about biohacking, they're in USA and/or Europe, but I live in China. So I want to know some basic information. Of course I want to meet people who are good at biohacking.
  - kanzure 14y ago
    > they're in USA and/or Europe, but I live in China. So I want to know some basic information. your best bet is https://groups.google.com/group/diybio https://groups.google.com/group/diybio - there are some people from China and all over the world. You can find other groups here: http://diyhpl.us/wiki/diybio/groups http://diyhpl.us/wiki/diybio/groups Even if you're in high school, you can still join or build your own lab. Don't let school get in the way of your work.
    - guojh0570 14y ago
      When I visited DIYbio.org, I tried to get in their email list, i.e. group/diybio.. But due to the GFW, I can not see the page. Thus I was so sad. And thank you for the last line. I do agree what you said, and it's what I think as well. BTW, it's hard to balance schoolwork with interests, the school doesn't encourage students to discover and do what they really enjoy. I've tried my best, I'm learning Latin as well.
      - kanzure 14y ago
        > But due to the GFW, I can not see the page. You can send an email to diybio+subscribe@googlegroups.com if you want to read the mailing list. Also, there are public archives: http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/irc/diybio.maildir.tar.gz http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/irc/diybio.maildir.tar.gz
devonbarrett 14y ago
As jcr biohacking spaces would be a great fit for you! Find some in your local area and head down, you can find people of all experiences who can guide you and advise you. They also have all the equipment you need to get started.
- guojh0570 14y ago
  As I said, I'm in China. Thus I don't think there are some hacking spaces and people who have a lab or something like Biohacking spaces.
miga 14y ago
There is a lot to be done with data accumulated in current databases like http://rcsb.org http://rcsb.org, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, etc. This work doesn't require any wet lab. If you want to do wet lab work, I would recommend to get at least few months of experience in a managed biology lab.
- guojh0570 14y ago
  I'm a senior high student, so I don't think I can do some work in a biology lab - even I want to do. And I don't think the school biology lab does not have enough tools for what I want.

8 points by guojh0570 14y ago

jcr 14y ago

Sorry, I'm not a biohacker, so I really don't know jack about your field of interest. I do know that I don't see much biohacking stuff on hn, so your question might be better directed towards a more specialized forum? I do know there are hacker spaces specific to biohacking, and they usually have strong communities around them. One here in the silicon valley is called BioCurious. http://biocurious.org/ http://biocurious.org/

guojh0570 14y ago
Thank you for replying, I've visited some websites about biohacking, they're in USA and/or Europe, but I live in China. So I want to know some basic information. Of course I want to meet people who are good at biohacking.
- kanzure 14y ago
  > they're in USA and/or Europe, but I live in China. So I want to know some basic information. your best bet is https://groups.google.com/group/diybio https://groups.google.com/group/diybio - there are some people from China and all over the world. You can find other groups here: http://diyhpl.us/wiki/diybio/groups http://diyhpl.us/wiki/diybio/groups Even if you're in high school, you can still join or build your own lab. Don't let school get in the way of your work.
  - guojh0570 14y ago
    When I visited DIYbio.org, I tried to get in their email list, i.e. group/diybio.. But due to the GFW, I can not see the page. Thus I was so sad. And thank you for the last line. I do agree what you said, and it's what I think as well. BTW, it's hard to balance schoolwork with interests, the school doesn't encourage students to discover and do what they really enjoy. I've tried my best, I'm learning Latin as well.
    - kanzure 14y ago
      > But due to the GFW, I can not see the page. You can send an email to diybio+subscribe@googlegroups.com if you want to read the mailing list. Also, there are public archives: http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/irc/diybio.maildir.tar.gz http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/irc/diybio.maildir.tar.gz

devonbarrett 14y ago

As jcr biohacking spaces would be a great fit for you! Find some in your local area and head down, you can find people of all experiences who can guide you and advise you. They also have all the equipment you need to get started.

guojh0570 14y ago
As I said, I'm in China. Thus I don't think there are some hacking spaces and people who have a lab or something like Biohacking spaces.

miga 14y ago

There is a lot to be done with data accumulated in current databases like http://rcsb.org http://rcsb.org, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, etc. This work doesn't require any wet lab. If you want to do wet lab work, I would recommend to get at least few months of experience in a managed biology lab.

guojh0570 14y ago
I'm a senior high student, so I don't think I can do some work in a biology lab - even I want to do. And I don't think the school biology lab does not have enough tools for what I want.