# Key Points from IRC Discussion on ##hplusroadmap (Dec 14, 2013)

• Oxford Nanopore's MinION device was discussed as a promising affordable personal DNA sequencing technology, though it was still in beta phase and not widely available at the time.

• Research on flow states revealed a significant correlation (r = .41) between striatal D2-receptor availability and flow proneness, with this relationship primarily driven by the dorsal striatum.

• Participants noted that personal genetic testing equipment prices were "dropping exponentially," potentially enabling private testing without reliance on third-party services.

• A philosophical debate emerged about skill acquisition strategies, questioning whether to diversify across domains (programming, music, science) or focus intensely on mastering one area before moving to others.

• The group discussed whether learning skills like playing musical instruments remains worthwhile given potential future brain uploads, with the counterpoint that such activities provide immediate health and cognitive benefits.

• Programming advice emphasized that mastering the underlying thought process is more valuable than specific languages, with suggestions to build transferable skills through projects like chess engines.

• Python was specifically recommended for scientific applications, particularly for those interested in neuroscience research.