# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• Participants shared several breakthrough papers on advanced DNA sequencing technologies, including microfluidic Sanger sequencing, real-time sequencing from single polymerase molecules, and Halcyon Molecular's SEM-based approach using "individual molecule placement rapid nanotransfer."

• The discussion highlighted significant economic and ethical concerns about genetic testing, particularly regarding insurance discrimination, with debate about "genetic insurance" as a potential solution and criticism of government restrictions on direct-to-consumer genetic testing.

• Users expressed concern about academic funding models, noting that universities typically claim 50-70% of research grants as "indirect costs" or "facilities and administrative costs," which many viewed as excessive overhead.

• The group discussed bioinformatics applications and shared papers on innovative neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI signals driven by optogenetically-defined neurons and directed evolution of an MRI contrast agent for noninvasive dopamine imaging.

• A debate emerged about whether death row inmates should be allowed to pursue cryonics, with one suggestion that it could be permitted if inmates accepted "redesign of their mind routines which led to violence" upon potential resurrection.

• Participants raised serious safety concerns about commercial CNC manufacturing systems, specifically criticizing Shopbot software for dangerous design flaws including controlling spindles through the Windows registry and falsely advertising closed-loop control capabilities.

• The conversation touched on citizen science initiatives, including birders contributing data on invasive plant species and resources for integrating digital fabrication into education through the FabLab movement.

• A notable computational breakthrough was shared: the first self-replicating pattern in Conway's Game of Life, discovered on May 18, 2010, with a video link provided to demonstrate this achievement.