# Key Points from ##hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• David Brin's paper on the dangers of alien contact was shared, reflecting ongoing transhumanist interest in existential risk assessment and interspecies communication challenges.

• Participants discussed augmented reality applications of thermal vision technology that could maintain proper spatial relationships between projected data and real-world objects.

• The 2014 iGEM competition was highlighted for notable genetic engineering projects, including human vitamin C synthesis using lemur genes, enzymatic conversion between blood types, and innovative DNA synthesis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase.

• Biohacking approaches to type 1 diabetes were examined, focusing on immune response challenges to transplanted beta cells and the potential for reprogramming a patient's own cells to produce insulin.

• A critical discussion of iterated embryo selection (IES) for genetic enhancement challenged Bostrom's conclusion about embryo selection's limited impact on world affairs.

• Alternative framing for genetically modified organisms was proposed, with terms like "Genetically Recoded Organisms" (GROs) and "Genetically Improved Organisms" (GIOs) suggested as alternatives to GMOs.

• Professional-grade EEG equipment from Biosemi was referenced, indicating ongoing interest in advanced brain-computer interface technologies within the community.