- A new eLife paper (https://elifesciences.org/articles/20985) shows that CCR5 acts as a suppressor of cortical plasticity and hippocampal learning/memory, prompting speculation that the CRISPR “HIV babies” may have been an undeclared intelligence-enhancement experiment (https://biohackinfo.com/news-crispr-twins-ccr5-intelligence-enhancement/).

- Sean Parker (Facebook/Napster co-founder) labeled the CRISPR-baby announcement “Sputnik 2.0,” urged massive U.S. government investment in biotech to avoid being eclipsed by China, and is personally funding $250 M in CAR-T immunotherapy research.

- Health Nucleus was discussed as a $7.5–25 k “genome-plus-full-body-MRI spa” that deliberately hunts for anomalies; participants debated the medical value versus over-diagnosis risks of such screening.

- A STAT article (https://www.statnews.com/2019/02/12/embryo-profiling-iq-almost-here/) warned that polygenic-score selection for higher-IQ embryos is imminent; channel members argued that editing 500 small-effect loci is a red herring compared to more targeted genetic-engineering approaches.

- Stanford Law is hosting a public event on 14 Feb 2019 titled “CRISPR’d Babies: What Is to Be Done?” with bioethicist Hank Greely.

- An IndieBio Medium post (https://medium.com/indiebio-sf/the-100-trillion-opportunity-3d827f18c56a) was circulated as a perspective on the scale of the bio-economy.

- A salvaged gamma-monitor photo (http://itfromb.it/temp/gamma_monitor.jpg) was offered for ideas on reuse, illustrating the channel’s culture of repurposing lab equipment.