# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussions

• Researchers discussed "The biological microprocessor" paper, exploring how to build computers with biological components that can monitor and control biological systems by applying engineering principles from silicon computers to biological systems.

• A cryopreservation startup was being planned with initial funding of 55,000 EUR for 12 months, aiming to demonstrate viable tissue preservation to attract larger investment (1-10M EUR), with discussions about animal models and regulatory requirements in the EU.

• RNAi (RNA interference) technology was analyzed in depth, including its limitations such as short half-life in vivo, immune system attacks on viral vectors, and the challenge of achieving sufficient gene knockdown, with modified approaches like morpholinos with synthetic backbones suggested as potential solutions.

• Biodegradable lipid nanoparticles were highlighted as a promising delivery mechanism for RNAi therapeutics, addressing some of the delivery challenges in gene silencing applications.

• The conversation referenced a theoretical paper on human head transplantation, discussing the technical challenges involved in such a procedure.

• Jonathan Rothberg's resignation from Life Technologies amid a $13.6 billion merger with Thermo Fisher Scientific was noted, with his Ion Torrent business unit being a key factor in the acquisition.

• Participants shared resources on synthetic biology, including discussions about the iGEM registry parts, specifically operator sites in the lambda phage promoter that function as binding sites for the cI repressor protein.