# Key Points from IRC Discussion

• Australians are developing laser technology to remove space debris, working by either creating radiation pressure or vaporizing part of the structure to push it away, as reported by the BBC.

• Several innovative biohacking projects were discussed, including Team EchiDNA's BIOMOD 2014 grand prize winner and the DEMOS project, which aims to synthesize DNA oligonucleotides without template strands using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.

• Affordable PCR technology is becoming more accessible through projects like miniPCR (Kickstarter) and Personal PCR, democratizing DNA amplification capabilities.

• A significant debate on gene patents explored whether naturally occurring genes should be patentable, with a Canadian hospital challenging gene patents with the argument that "Genes are not inventions. They belong to all of us."

• Kanzure proposed reforming the patent system to function more like industry-specific taxes rather than technology-specific monopolies, with discussion noting patents' evolution from royal monopoly grants to the current invention-based system.

• IBM is proposing to use Bitcoin's blockchain technology for Internet of Things architecture, suggesting applications beyond cryptocurrency.

• Open-source hardware projects shared included a 3D printable Raman Spectrometer using Raspberry Pi and BotQueue, a printer queue system for managing 3D printing workflows.