# Key Points from IRC Log

• Researchers discussed the "haemo-neural hypothesis" (shared via MIT dspace link), exploring blood-brain interactions and their implications for neuroscience.

• Anselm Levskaya detailed challenges in DNA synthesis, noting microarray-based synthesis has high error rates (~36% correct sequences for 100mers) and described using custom optical/sequencing equipment to physically separate good molecules from bad ones instead of enzymatic error correction.

• Participants debated DNA amplification techniques, including discussion about minimum primer length for PCR, with research suggesting 6-8bp primers can work though they're impractically short for most applications.

• The conversation clarified that "potentiates dopamine" in research literature refers to increased synaptic strength or amplitude of change resulting from presynaptic action.

• Concerns were raised about the "Glowing Plant" Kickstarter reaching $65,000, with some participants viewing this development negatively while discussing alternative approaches to next-generation DNA synthesis.

• A detailed breakdown of DNA error rates was shared: chemical synthesis errors (~1 in 100), thermal depurination errors (1 in 10^5), polymerase copy errors (1 in 10^6), and in-vivo bacterial copy errors (1 in 10^8-10^9 per replication).

• CERN is seeking €300,000 in donations for KiCad development to improve this open-source electronic design automation software to compete with proprietary tools.

• Advanced battery technology was discussed, with a shared paper on high-power lithium ion microbatteries using interdigitated three-dimensional bicontinuous nanoporous electrodes.