# Summary of IRC Log from ##hplusroadmap (Dec 21, 2016)

* A discussion about nanotechnology applications included a user sharing their work on a nano-sieve with 30nm pores in a grid pattern for next-generation DNA synthesis, including challenges with modeling structures at the nanoscale using BRLCAD software.

* A resource on microfluidic valve types was shared (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f03a/b20ecee093c84e9451b082321cabd0e845c2.pdf), with discussion about selecting appropriate on-chip pumps for basic microfluidic demonstrations.

* Several scientific papers were shared related to DNA technologies, including "A highly sensitive selection method for directed evolution of homing endonucleases," "Single molecule techniques in DNA repair: A primer," and "Construction of multifragment plasmids by homologous recombination in yeast."

* A user noted that homologous recombination in yeast for plasmid construction initially required large homology regions of several hundred base pairs, but later research showed that as little as 30-50bp homology regions are sufficient when introduced via PCR primers.

* The rebranding of IndieBio EU to RebelBio was mentioned (https://rebelbio.co/), with discussion about Cathal's involvement in biotech accelerators and startups.

* A conceptual idea was proposed for a biotech company called "Bruteforce Bio" that would specialize in arbitrary directed evolution projects.

* A link was shared to a video of Art De Vany discussing aging (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G92kHgieiKk).