- A CRISPR-Cas “ticker-tape” system was introduced that continuously records time-stamped molecular events into the genomes of both bacteria and human cells, as described in the 2016 biorxiv preprint “Continuous genetic recording with self-targeting CRISPR-Cas in human cells” and the 2016 Science paper “Molecular recordings by directed CRISPR spacer acquisition.”

- The 2014 arXiv paper “Rosetta brains” and the companion “Conneconomics” study were discussed as scalable, cost-modeled strategies for producing molecularly annotated connectomes, outlining how whole-brain neural circuit mapping could be achieved at practical expense.

- Optical connectomics proposals included using Cre/Lox Brainbow to multiplex fluorophore labeling of synapses, enabling connectivity reconstruction without axon tracing, and “shotgun” sparse activity sampling to infer complete wiring diagrams from limited optical data.

- Whole-brain imaging techniques such as Serial Two-Photon Tomography (STPT) and light-sheet microscopy were reviewed, with references to large-scale mouse brain wiring diagrams and extensions of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for contrast enhancement.

- Functional nucleic-acid technologies showcased tumor-targeting aptamers capable of phototoxic killing, RNA-based GFP mimics, the MAWS software platform for SELEX-free aptamer design, and aptamer-gold-nanoparticle conjugates engineered for CT and MRI contrast.

- Key safety data for in vivo nanoparticle use were highlighted, including 2012 studies on gold-nanoparticle biodistribution, renal clearance, and toxicity that address earlier safety concerns and inform future nanoparticle theranostics.

- Upcoming open-science events were noted, specifically the October 7 OSHWA conference in Portland, alongside ongoing debate over maintaining accessible, searchable communication channels (mailing lists, IRC, text logs) versus relying on closed video hangouts.