# Key Points from IRC Discussions on Transhumanism and Biotechnology

• DIY gene therapy was discussed in detail, with explanations that it involves designing plasmid DNA and using electroporation to introduce it into muscle tissue, with a focus on overexpressing native genes to avoid immune reactions.

• Participants debated gene delivery methods, with some arguing that electroporation has higher efficiency in vivo compared to liposome-based delivery methods, which were described as "toxic and expensive."

• The conversation highlighted resources for longevity research and gene therapy, with links to paper collections at diyhpl.us that serve as starting points for newcomers interested in these fields.

• Experienced users emphasized the importance of building foundational knowledge in molecular biology before attempting complex genetic modifications, recommending resources like the "Molecular Biology of the Cell" textbook and bioinformatics databases such as KEGG, MetaCyc, and NCBI.

• The biological limitations of radical human enhancement (such as adding wings for flight) were discussed, with explanations about physical constraints like weight-to-thrust ratios that would make certain modifications impractical despite genetic engineering capabilities.

• Participants explored the philosophical perspective that "biology is technology," framing cells as machines and discussing the implications for biological engineering compared to computer programming, with cautions that biology is significantly more complex despite surface similarities.