- Discussion of open-source CAD tools: OpenSCAD’s STL-only output is seen as “compiled” rather than source; STEP/IGES export is missing, limiting interoperability with SolidWorks/Alibre/Pro-E.  
- Kanzure previews “lolcad,” a Pythonic parametric CAD kernel that exports STEP and is being reverse-engineered for SolidWorks file-format compatibility to preserve full parametric editability.  
- DIYbio hardware market skepticism: no validated market-size data; most participants assumed broke; university purchasing agents likely to demand UL/ETL certification and turnkey kits.  
- Critique of OpenPCR and LavaAmp projects: $100 k spent on Rob Carlson consultancy without clear market validation; devices still in rough prototype form with rubber-band fixtures.  
- Links shared: bioluminescent-bacteria art video, “Gibson Assembly Song,” indiebiotech.com (Cathal Garvey’s new site), and a Nature Medicine article on DIYbio safety added to bit.ly/diybionews.  
- DNAqa.com introduced: a web app that lets users pose phenotypic questions tied to specific SNPs, automatically pulls 23andMe data from respondents, and clusters answers to reveal genotype-phenotype patterns.  
- Conference alerts: “Making Perfect Life—Bio-engineering in the 21st Century” for the European Parliament, and Society for Neuroscience in San Diego—channel members asked about attendance.  
- Humanity+ funding brainstorm: Kanzure tasked with compiling a list of fundable projects; concern raised when OpenCog suggested as a candidate.