# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussion (July 24, 2016)

• The Earth's biosphere processes more than 10^24 subunits of DNA per second, with bacterial growth rates typically ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 per day, highlighting the immense computational power of biological systems.

• In Vitro Compartmentalization (IVC) was discussed as a powerful selection technique that enables the evolution of enzymes with catalytic activities, with successful applications including DNA polymerases, restriction endonucleases, and β-galactosidases.

• A novel electrospray technology for creating sub-femtoliter compartments was shared, capable of generating cell-like compartments at rates exceeding 100,000 droplets per second, with potential applications in accelerated protein synthesis and genome-scale experimentation.

• Participants debated the controversial goal stated by Cambrian Genomics of "replacing all natural organisms on the planet with better synthetic ones," expressing skepticism about both the wisdom and feasibility of such an approach.

• The heritability of intelligence was discussed in the context of a Chinese research project on the genetics of genius, with reference to studies suggesting genetic factors explain more than half of the variation in adult general intelligence.

• A computational model called "The Chemical Abstract Machine" was shared, describing states as chemical solutions with molecules that interact according to reaction rules, representing an intersection of chemistry and computational theory.