# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussions

• Participants identified a significant challenge in recruiting skilled collaborators for open-source bioinformatics and protocol standardization projects, suggesting targeted approaches like university journal clubs and work-in-progress meetups rather than broad online recruitment.

• The group discussed DIY biology infrastructure limitations, particularly regulatory barriers to purchasing chemicals from suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich, emphasizing the need to develop independent synthesis capabilities.

• Technical discussions included myostatin inhibitors (particularly GASP-1) and antibody cloning techniques, with participants sharing research papers and discussing both gene knockout and partial inhibition approaches.

• The conversation touched on optogenetics for cellular communication, with interest in fiber optic nervous system technology as a potential enhancement pathway for transhumanists.

• Participants debated the feasibility of using 3D printing technologies like SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) for functional gear production beyond prototype applications.

• The group noted the intersection of transhumanism and academia, observing that some graduate students hold transhumanist views but often maintain a low profile about these interests in academic settings.

• There was discussion about SKDB (a hardware/component standardization project) as a potential solution for DIY biology equipment and protocol sharing, highlighting the need for standardization in biohacking.