# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussion

• Participants discussed gene therapy technologies, particularly Repoxygen, which induces controlled erythropoietin release in response to low oxygen, highlighting concerns about its potential misuse for athletic enhancement through "gene doping."

• A comprehensive review of gene targets for performance enhancement was shared, including ACE, ACTN3, endorphins, EPO, HGH, HIF, IGF-1, myostatin, PPAR-delta, and VEGF, demonstrating the community's interest in genetic enhancement technologies.

• The group explored practical applications of gene therapy, including a proposed glycolytic shunt for fat burning, noting the significant market potential for weight loss solutions while discussing related medical challenges like excess skin after weight loss.

• Several open-source medical technologies were shared, including OsiriX for medical imaging and OpenSpirometry, reflecting the community's commitment to democratizing healthcare technology.

• An open-source Bussard fusion reactor Kickstarter project was highlighted, showing interest in alternative energy solutions alongside discussion of the Bloom Box home power generation technology.

• The conversation touched on open hardware development tools like MyHDL, a Python package that enables hardware description with automatic conversion to Verilog and VHDL for silicon implementation.

• Participants engaged with philosophical distinctions between "free software" and "open source" approaches, referencing Richard Stallman's perspectives and concerns about potential criminalization of both movements.