# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• George Church's lab reported significant progress using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit 62 genes in pigs, removing porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) to create organs suitable for human transplantation, with PERV-free embryos expected for implantation in 2016.

• Twist Bioscience's deal to sell 100 million pairs of synthetic DNA (approximately 10% of global DNA synthesis capacity) signals major scaling in the synthetic biology industry.

• Participants discussed underutilized personal biological preservation methods including umbilical cord blood banking, egg freezing, and sperm preservation as preventative measures for future anti-aging applications.

• The group explored religious and ethical perspectives on xenotransplantation, noting that while Jewish law forbids raising or eating pigs, it doesn't prohibit using pig organs to save human lives.

• Interest in cognitive enhancement technologies was evident, with several participants discussing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices for improving mathematical ability and concentration.

• The conversation included technical topics like the Ramer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm for curve simplification and Zerocoin's development of privacy-focused cryptocurrency technology.