# Key Points from IRC Log

• Nathan McCorkle's presentation on DNA synthesis and microfluidics was discussed, with particular interest in his idea to use photoisomerization for DNA synthesis at the 34:38 mark of his YouTube video.

• A discussion on the systematization of science emerged, with nsh suggesting that computational frameworks might naturally lead to a convergence between theoretical models and their algorithmic implementations, though kanzure expressed skepticism that scientists would ever universally adopt machine-parseable formats.

• CRISPR gene editing alternatives were discussed, with participants noting that zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and TALENs are options but generally considered inferior to CRISPR-Cas9, which is both cheaper and easier to work with using RNA rather than protein modification.

• A legal case against Sci-Hub was shared, with Elsevier filing against Alexandra Elbakyan and potentially LibGen, prompting discussion about the future of these scientific paper access tools.

• Interesting technology links were shared, including a company selling bacteria for healthier skin, memristors available in DIP packages for $199, and information about Shewanella oneidensis, a bacterium that can reduce heavy metal ions and survive in both aerobic and anaerobic environments.