# Key Points from IRC Discussions

• A study was mentioned showing that 0.075% blood alcohol content may improve problem-solving abilities as measured by the Remote Associates Test (RAT), suggesting mild intoxication might enhance certain cognitive functions.

• Octopus breeding was discussed as a potential avenue for intelligence research, noting their rapid growth (doubling mass weekly), transparent eggs, and prolific reproduction (100,000-500,000 eggs), making them candidates for rapid selection experiments.

• Researchers explored the domestication process as a pathway to intelligence, referencing experiments with rats and foxes where selecting for tameness over generations produced significant behavioral changes after just 8 generations.

• The conversation highlighted advanced brain imaging technology for zebrafish using light-sheet microscopy to capture whole-brain functional imaging at cellular resolution, with potential applications if combined with optogenetic neural receptors.

• Several iGEM synthetic biology projects were discussed, including circular RNA for "infinite translation" protein production, yeast producing unsaturated fatty acids, gene therapy for type 1 diabetes, and microglia engineered to break down Alzheimer's plaques.

• Participants noted challenges in octopus aquaculture, particularly in rearing paralarvae due to specific nutritional requirements, with the most successful experimental diets containing crab and squid mixtures.