<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><div>Hey everybody,</div><div><br></div><div>I thought some of you might be interested in a really cool, emerging community called DIYbio. Do-It-Yourself Biology is a worldwide collection of biology enthusiasts, professionals, academics, and hobbyists. This community's noble goal is to democratize technology and resources needed to work and play with biology. No longer will people require a PhD and access to a multimillion dollar lab to partake in the many aspects of biological science. Personally, I'm invested in DIYbio because I think that widespread biohacking and backyard-biology has the potential to rapidly progress biological technology (kind of like hobbyists in the early days of personal computing). Also, biology is awesome and really fun to mess around with.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Some current DIYbio happenings include designing open source biotech equipment (electroporators, gel boxes, power supplies, etc), setting up garage laboratories, engineering bacterial genetics to detect melamine, and providing unfettered access to scientific journals. Moreover, underlying this entire movement is the recognition that safety, ethicality, and transparency are paramount to fostering a responsible community of biohackers.</div>
<div><br></div><div>There's DIYbio groups popping up the world over, but Seattle has some of the most involvement, excitement, and opportunities (Boston and the Bay Area are up there too). DIYbio-Seattle had our first meeting a few weeks ago, and we're having another one this Friday. You should come! Seattle-ite Dan Heidel is hosting it at his house in Phinney Ridge. Dan is in the process of setting up Seattle Open Biolabs--a wetlab in South Seattle where those who want to do research can, and where people can develop their own ideas without worrying about an institution owning their IP. Dan is seeking motivated, competent individuals to come work with him.</div>
<div><br></div><div>But! There's more going on than just hardcore biological research. In the coming months, people all over the country are going to take part in BioWeatherMap: a project where hundreds of people meet up at local parks, street corners, and neighborhoods. These masses of DIYbio-ers will use sterile swabs (like Q-Tips) on all the crosswalk buttons, drinking fountain handles, and doorknobs in the area. These swabs will pick up all the microscopic life from these frequently-touched surfaces, and they will be sent to have the microorganisms sequenced and identified. Next, geographical information about the local microflora will be put up on a Google Maps-like interface. How do microbe populations vary across different regions? We're about to find out on a large scale. It's going to be very cool.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Anyways, check out DIYbio.org if you're interested, or join the Seattle group (<a href="http://groups.google.com/group/diybio---seattle?lnk=srg" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(6, 88, 181); ">http://groups.google.com/group/diybio---seattle?lnk=srg</a>) and say hi. If you want to come to our next (very informal) meeting, it's at <span style="border-collapse: collapse; ">8PM Friday, Jan 30th. 4817 Greenwood Ave N Seattle, WA 98103. Come with questions, ideas, or just to hang out. Let me know if you're interested!</span><br>
</div><div><br></div><div>Alec<br></div></span>