# Key Points from IRC Discussion

• Discussions on biological structures revealed that while some vesicles, spores, and virus capsids might resemble fullerenes, no true biological fullerenes have been identified, highlighting the distinction between natural biomolecules and synthetic carbon structures.

• Quantum computing progress was tracked through Rose's Law (quantum computing's equivalent to Moore's Law), with participants sharing visualization charts demonstrating the exponential growth trajectory of quantum computing capabilities.

• Transcriptic, a cloud-based bio-lab startup, secured $8.5 million in Series A funding and invested $800,000 in robotic equipment, with their resource reservation system being highlighted as a significant advancement for accessible scientific research.

• Carbon nanotube research has progressed to producing half-meter long nanotubes, though mass production remains a significant challenge for practical applications of this technology.

• Participants critiqued current science funding models, noting that entire fields like physical chemistry receive minimal funding ($2 million from NSF), with one participant arguing that "blood feuds between middle-aged professors trying to hit career milestones is not the right way to organize science."

• Advanced genomic sequencing was discussed, with PacBio RS-II technology reportedly achieving 500kbase contiguous reads, though questions remained about its accuracy compared to Illumina sequencing, particularly for single-molecule applications in epigenetics research.

• The conversation included technical analysis of Autoprotocol.org's specification language, with concerns about its limitations in supporting closed-loop control systems for experimental protocols and machine control in automated lab environments.