The Economist on Life 2.0

(Personal comment: I first wrote a draft for this post a week ago when I originally read the leader (Playing Demigods) for the Economist report in question. I'm now sitting in a delivery room at a Copenhagen Hospital, waiting for the arrival of my third child. Synthetic biology/life seems so akward in a situation like this, yet it just might be a significant part of my son's life-long well-being.)

Two issues back (Sept 2), The Economist -- practically my only paper subscription left -- had a magnificent feature report on Life 2.0. The title alone lends to a fusion of biology with the principles from the bottom-up nature of the early pc industry, indeed suggesting that "[...] biotechnology will become a true branch of engineering." Specifically, the 2.0 mark hints that the revolution which is going to happen within biology will be driven as much by individual garage tinkerers as by universities and R&D departments of large biotechs.

While not being synthetic biology, MAKE Mag fabs Shawn Connally and Phil Torrone drive home the point by having rounded up Attila Csordas and his device protocol for "isolat[ing] stem cells from your baby's placenta in a rent lab or at home" for the upcoming EuroOSCON Make Fest, which also plays well with one emerging theme at this year's FOO Camp, body hacking -- engineers and copper wire paired with doctors, psychologists and neurologists.