- A pair of recent papers describe antiviral reverse transcriptases that can create entirely new genes: one shows phage-triggered RT assembling a toxic repetitive gene from a non-coding RNA (Science 2024, adq3977), while the pre-print “De novo gene synthesis by an antiviral reverse transcriptase” (bioRxiv 2024.05.08.593200) suggests convergent or competing work from the Zhang lab.

- Cryonics-relevant vitrification research was highlighted: a pre-print demonstrates that mouse corticohippocampal brain slices retain excitability and synaptic transmission after vitrification and rewarming (bioRxiv 2024.06.03.597218), prompting discussion of vitrification as solidification without ice-crystal formation.

- Multiple next-generation DNA synthesis methods were shared, including: controlled reverse-strand synthesis for error-correction (Cambridge repository), enzymatic synthesis with artificial three-nucleotide codons (ChemRxiv 2023), and an inkjet printer coupled to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) for scalable enzymatic DNA writing (Science Advances 2023, adi0263).

- A microscopy-by-sequencing technique was validated using DNA-origami reference structures to benchmark spatial precision (bioRxiv 2020.08.27.271072), and an ACS Synthetic Biology paper introduced “molecular programs” that enable in-vitro compartmentalized self-selection for autonomous directed evolution.

- Discussion of self-replicating machines included a pointer to a curated thread (twitter.com/kanzure/status/1821665277270020316) and the broader importance of self-replication for future space-faring infrastructure.

- Hardware ideas surfaced: repurposing thermal receipt/label printers for microfluidic chemistry, and a Google patent (US11214661B2) on 3-D nanofabrication via photon-beam patterning of shrinking hydrogels.

- Visible-light-responsive azobenzene photoswitches were reviewed (JOC 2022 & Nature Reviews Chemistry 2021) as optogenetic or molecular-control tools, and the IBBIS “common mechanism” project (ibbis.bio) was noted as a resource for biological parts standardization.