# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussion

• Participants debated whether science fiction films with mind-transfer themes like "Self/Less" ultimately help or hinder transhumanist ideas, and recommended philosophical works exploring these concepts including Greg Egan's "Permutation City" and Ted Chiang's short stories.

• Mike Darwin's correspondence on cryonics was shared, noting his observation that nature has not evolved large mammals capable of freezing despite potential evolutionary advantages, suggesting fundamental biological limitations.

• The group engaged in detailed technical planning for an open-source DNA printer project using piezoelectric inkjet technology, with specifications including 1.5pL drop size (~75μm spots), 282μm nozzle spacing, and 10 micron precision requirements.

• The DNA synthesizer project will utilize LinuxCNC for machine control (providing a Hardware Abstraction Layer), Mesa FPGA boards for printhead control, and Epson printhead technology operating at ~14KHz per channel.

• Researchers discussed the wood frog's remarkable adaptation to extreme freezing conditions, surviving temperatures as low as -16°C in laboratory settings and potentially below -20°C in Alaska's natural environment.

• An open-source hardware project called RuuviTag was announced, with the team transitioning from DA14581 to NRF52 chips in version 2 and planning to release fully open-source firmware.

• Participants noted the highly proprietary nature of the inkjet printing industry while discussing their capability to print PCBs including substrates and conductors entirely from fluids using SLA + Inkjet technology.