# Key Points from IRC Discussion on Biohacking and DIY Science

• Participants discussed the development of open-source hardware for laboratory equipment, including an orbital shaker and debates about the feasibility of DIY DNA synthesizers, with skepticism about using inkjet technology despite reports of 94-98% coupling efficiency using propylene carbonate as a less-volatile alternative to acetonitrile.

• The conversation revealed significant cost barriers in biotech, with DNA synthesizers typically costing $15,000-$150,000, and critical analysis of academic projects like POSaM that may overpay for components ($23,000 for optical boards and motion control) that could be sourced more affordably.

• Educational resources for self-learning biology were shared, including MIT OpenCourseWare, Khan Academy, and Coursera, alongside a philosophical discussion about methodological differences between biology and computer science and whether biology is too complex for systematic construction.

• The DIY biology (DIYBIO) community was noted to have decreased in activity over the past year, with fewer people available to explain concepts or improve documentation, highlighting challenges for newcomers who may have unrealistic expectations about what they can accomplish beyond basic experiments.

• Resources shared included the diyhpl.us wiki, rOpenSci (providing R packages for open science), and DIY microscopy projects converting webcams into microscopes, reflecting ongoing efforts to create affordable lab equipment under $10,000 USD.

• An interesting insight into academic resource access in China revealed that students pay $60-100 USD for unauthorized access to university journal subscriptions and VPN accounts, using specific Chinese search terms and platforms like Baidu rather than Google.