DIY Biohacking Can Change The World, If the Government Allows It
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ธ.ค. 2024
- Biohackers, much like their computer hacker forebears, prefer asking for forgiveness rather than permission.
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Josiah Zayner is a scientist and entrepreneur who quit his government job in a NASA lab to start The Odin, a synthetic biology company run out of his garage. For $150, anyone can now purchase the cutting-edge "gene editing" tool CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) through The Odin's online shop.
Zayner champions do-it-yourself "biohacking" as the future of science and often draws comparisons between his work and that of the computer scientists and hackers of the '80s and '90s who eventually become the titans of Silicon Valley.
"I think [genetic engineering] is really going to become a consumer industry," says Zayner. "Consumers drive a lot of technological advancement."
Biohackers like Zayner, much like their computer hacker forebears, prefer asking for forgiveness rather than permission. And so far, Zayner hasn't had to do either. But the launch of a new product that allows users to engineer fluorescent yeast by inserting a gene from a bio-luminescent jellyfish drew the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after officials learned that breweries were using the product to create glowing beer. They called up Zayner to discuss potential regulatory pitfalls.
Officials on the call, which Zayner recorded and posted on his TH-cam channel, sound hesitant to make any hard-and-fast declarations about Zayner's work, but they do clearly express the opinion that the yeast modification constitutes a "food color additive," which is subject to pre-market approval by the agency. They instruct him that he should change the language on his website so that nobody construes the yeast as a food product. Zayner then asks them what will happen if he doesn't change anything, to which one of the officials replies,
"Well, there's a number of things that we could do, from a warning letter...to, where, if it got to the point where we would, you know, seize material."
They also tell him to keep track of who is buying the yeast kit and suggest that he could face "trouble" if breweries continue to use the product, even if he changes the marketing language.
"This is who I'm dealing with, a bunch of bullies," says Zayner. "Bullying people into doing what they want, not for scientific reasons, not for the betterment of the public...just because."
Zayner is not the only one in the genetics industry burdened with regulatory uncertainty. Another such case is that of Antony Evans at TAXA, a San Francisco-based synthetic biology company that aims to engineer plants to supplement or replace common household items. They currently have a glowing plant in development, which Evans envisions as an alternative to nighttime lighting, and fragrant moss that could act as an organic air freshener. He's had products jammed up by the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the past.
"If you're an entrepreneur creating a regulated article, the cost to getting that product to market is extremely high," says Evans. "That's why a lot of entrepreneurs are starting in the edges."
Evans believes that it's the pre-market approval process that stymies innovation among small, lean startups, which cannot afford to wait years and spend hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to take a product to market. The FDA does allow products that only contain substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) to go straight to market, but Zayner and Evans both believe the list of GRAS substances is far too limited and the process for approval needlessly burdensome and time-consuming.
"We have no idea how much we are inhibiting [innovation], but we just know that we are because it's almost impossible to launch a plant GMO company."
Watch the full video above.
Produced by Zach Weissmueller by Alexis Garcia. Camera by Alex Manning and Weissmueller. Music by Jon Luc Hefferman.
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15 FUCKING YEARS TO GET APPROVED? WHAT THE FUCK?!?
Your time concern has more sense coming from you...
Do-it-yourself biotechnology is an important advancement!
I hope that yeast goes wild and we get harmless glow in the dark spore clouds floating around town now and again.
i think we would be in more trouble from the UV lights needed to illuminate a spore cloud with GFP....
That's kinda already a thing
From what I can tell, people think "God" doesn't want us to fuck with "his creation". Fuck that shit, let's fuck with that shit.
Technically "God" doesn't mind...or else "God" would have made a natural law making it impossible to do so. However, "God" help you if you try to go faster than the speed of light.
He did tell us to 'subdue the earth'.
make earth our bitch? is that why conservatives refuse to acknowledge global warming?
nah m
We've been "fucking with creation" through agriculture and technology since before we invented "god(s)".
how long until I can do photosynthesis?
EgadsNo jam a tree up your butt and go show the sun what the bright side of a moon looks like ;)
Thank you, keep up the great work genetic biohackers!
I want to make algae that tastes like strawberries…
Abolish the FDA. Have one regulation, require "Buyer Beware" label on everything.
@Robert legitd00d then dont eat a fucking poptart
Even after years of testing and FDA approval, some products take decades of being on the market for any negative effects to be discovered. How long *should* an approval process be then? Ten years? Fifty years? A hundred years? Meanwhile, humanity suffers for lack of advancement, all because of concern over what *might* happen.
If something bad happens to animals when they get this gene then why did the gene come from another living thing that didn't die because of it? The jellyfish never died or suffered because of it and nether will we
@@sirawesomeness7543 They splice this specific fluorescent gene into other animals all the time in research as an easy way to track the gene modifications they've tied it to. It's broadly used and has no side effects, and I'm sure that he chose it for that reason.
The precautionary principle espoused by the regulatory agencies essentially amounts to "never do anything for the first time."
halykan my statement was rhetorical to expand on my support for the technology but thanks for the extra backup
I can't stop internally loling at all of the (big gov't loving) conservatives and other neo-ludite types in the comments who're petrified by the science of genetic augmentation. I'm also a little disappointed by the lack of Bioshock jokes.
A man chooses. A slave obeys (their respective party).
whitefox998 I'm no luddite. But I can't actually say I approve of something as reckless as this.
Having said that-- I'm not going to get my liberal snowflake panties in a bunch about it at this time.
One of two things is likely to eventually happen: Either 1) someone will eventually hit upon a "killer app" feature in which case the whole area of "yeast hacking" will look more legitimate. or 2) someone will accidentally make something very harmful -- in which case all the 'biohackers' are probably kind of screwed.
As is often the case, random chance will play a large role in what eventually happens.
What he worked at NASA?! That makes him legit!
Sry but all of this is really stupid. There is a reason that the people how discovered the possibilty CRISPR wanted a moratorium. There are the possibility of Genswitches in CRISPR/Cas that could damage our ecosystem for ever. If you don't believe me go and check for Genswitch Mosquitos!
Just an FYI, conservatives and libertarians would love to have this on the market. It is the liberals and democrats are the ones that want controlling government. As long as they weigh the benefits and risks I say let get this party started.
I considered myself Conservative, then realized I'm a right leaning liberterian. Too many Rhinos and CCP shills in the R party right now.
Fascinating, particularly the fragrant moss/plant light bulb company. A unique aspect of biotechnology is its potential for self propagation/perpetuation - the costs of a mistake could scale in a way uncommon to other tech, so there is good reason to tread carefully here.
Still, the stifling of innovation is sad to see. A solution could be to allow the sale/marketing of "dead" material (i.e. luminescent yeast products where the yeast is killed before leaving the production facility) without a lengthy approval process and expect the manufacturer to submit to inspections to ensure the live material is controlled. As for food safety, prominent labeling showing lack of FDA approval seems to be a fair balance between public safety and barriers to innovation.
Science illiteracy drinking game - when someone comments on a science video about zombies DRINK!
So I could alter my lawn grass to produce tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hey, it's not marijuana.
THC itself is illegal in the USA. So technically your grass would be in violation of the drug laws. Whether they find out is another matter.
You could do a gene drive to impart the gene to all grasses. You can't burn down the whole world.
Watch them try.
ExtantFrodo2 going to be honest here. Forcing the whole grass population to produce thc sounds like a bad idea. I have absolutely no idea what that would do to the ecosystem. I assume bad though.
+ExtantFrodo2: It was eradicated it from the landscape once, what makes you think it could not be done again?
Would love to chat about experiments
"Loosen your grip daddy, you're hurting me"
Me to the government
Permissionless innovation. Fucking love it.
Glow in the dark beer will never catch on
I'm just waiting for the beer that cures cancer
Set up a lab in a country with no regulations and export from there
Great...this is how we get zombies!
In the end its your body, so its your choice wich substances you want inject in it.
So that's how zombie apocalypse starts ..
haha, that is science literacy for you
The innovation is going to happen, it just wont be here, we wont have any influence on that future.
just look at the show Dallas Buyers Club... the FDA tried stopping that too
What's the shelf-life?
Men! We should continue the scientific revolution just as what our ancestors did and brought us to this current status. Galileo Galilei died for us in this revolution , but the diffirence is that he's foe at that time was Religios Beliefs , while now is goverment and their shity regulation. revolutions drive us forward but it wouldn't be easy we need to sacrifice to obtain change that we need to move forward.
luc lloyd VIVA LA RESISTANCE
Gallileo Galilei died at his villa on 8 January 1642, aged 77 of natural causes. He was briefly imprisoned in 1633 then put under house arrest for the rest of his life, but even then his second major work 'The two sciences' was published in Holland to avoid the censorship of the inquisition.
Hardly a martyr.
I’ll be interested when y’all develop some plasmids
Biological Weapons - Home Style
"No... But yes if Monsanto does it"
I need to move to a free country.
Go Grinders.
The fact this guy has a PHD and was hired by NASA is by all means mind boggling.
Putting aside the way he articulates himself and sounds imo like a 15 year old, how on earth did he manage to get all that education and experience without understanding the huge risks of offering such a kit to the public? Let alone that, not knowing that food additives are regulated and require FDA approval??????? Are you kidding me!?
That's not bullish you weirdo! It's their job to regulate and make sure the public which has 0 knowledge or time to examine and validate anything and everything that enters their system is safe to use!
I'm by no means a PHD or nearly as educated as this guy is, and although I approve of his bottom line idea that this tech should be available to the public, but even I know and agree that it's dangerous and his responses to that are at the very least disingenuous.
With all that said - I support the root idea of allowing the public to study and advance research in this field through personal home experiments(not on themselves or their pets!!!) and hopefully achieve faster what the science community tends to take decades to achieve.
History never been kind on those who achieved breakthroughs, not until they finally did.
8:38 looks like a bobble head of himself
Even dumping his bioproducts in the sewers we don't know the effects on the environment
wait what did just happen??? I was counting his earing so I wasn't paying attention now hat he was saying.
Where can sign up for experimental biohacking? USE ME! (seriously)
Interesting, but also interview someone who does not stand to financially gain from approval. Perhaps a professor of synthetic biology? BTW: I did recently see the GloFish at the local pet store.
This discussion is a bit disturbing on both sides if I were to be honest. On one hand I do think federal regulations on medication is supposed to hold a purpose, and a very important one. To make sure we're not finding ourselves taking toxic pills, or medicine with horrible side-effects we weren't aware of, and to make sure we're not... well, glowing mice, or using that as the exact it's somehow safe. How well they do that job is certainly going to be questionable, especially as our health science doesn't seem to be so concrete, and lobbying is capable of breaking parts of such a system. However I still think the goal and purpose is served to a point. On the other hand, they've also held back progress. I've heard stories time and time again of medicine and aid, or even common remedies or safe things being held back just because the FDA decided it needed to be the sole provider of what was right, not experience, or well-beings of healthy residents among other places. In some cases this has lead to awful struggles or perhaps even death from some people.
I think in the end it would be pretty awesome to let the market do what it wanted, but to have a special seal of approval, or even different grades of approval (like FDA approved testing for 20 years, and then another for 70 or so). Those will probably sell better and be the top of the market and doctor recommended, but others could still be an option for experimentation, emergency, or last resort cases, and it would also present a higher testing ground. If suddenly a bunch of people took **unregulated med name here** caught cancer, or experienced some unlisted side-effect, it could be marked for an emergency inspection, and things get fixed up, eliminated, or warned about.
Look up Underwriter's Laboratories. They are a testing lab that tests the safety and quality of all sorts of consumer goods. Legalize all drugs and testing labs will pop up (probably offshoots of UL) that will do the testing for a fee if the drug company wishes. As long as the drug company doesn't commit fraud by claiming their drugs have been tested by a reputable lab then people can choose if they want to take a risk with experimental medications, discounted untested ones, or tested ones at a higher price.
LET US CHOOSE!
ROSE SCENTED MOSS.
I NEED NOW
gotta allow the innovation
Not everyone is a fucking scientist! This is ridiculous 🤦🏻♂️
here after that braincraft video 'mutant menu'
See I agree that biohacking can have some very good consequences if allowed into the public but someone will get the resources and create some horrible disease. There are always crazy psycopaths.
the purpose of the hacking is for individual monetary gain.this guy doesnt care if the dye will cause long term effect on anyone. some one teach this guy a lesson before he starts harming some one
Well-- that will be interesting.
Kudzo and Asian carp were also said to be "totally harmless." Given the impossibility of putting the poop back in the goose, I'm OK with proceeding very cautiously.
It's Matt I'm in favor of proceeding cautiously as well.
But i don't trust an armed gang of thugs (government) to be the ones to make decisions.
It all boils down then to environment. Change the location of your labs to countries/environments that support you or atleast do not block the road t your success...Enter Africa.
3:25 who cares. that's not his problem.
This sort of thing should be right up Trump's ally, if he knows that this sort of thing already exists.
I need to gen-hack my body to look like a white Incredible Hulk with pheromones that make hot women always want to jump my bones, with the mental powers of Lex Luthor, Tony Stark, Batman, etc., combined. :)
4:10 he calls the FDA bullies. Give me a break - DIY biohacking is potentially extremely dangerous. Yes, it has great potential - but there is a reason food additives and similar things take so long to be approved.
Says the guy with the Minecrap avatar who wants to glow in the dark.
Ayeee we have the same name 😂
CURE ?? Shift to a diff country.ENd of story.
well, you don't like GMO foods, but you go for THIS? I don't get it.Pleaze enlighten me as this all looks like "New Age" crap to me!
Your're comlainung now, but just take a look at European laws and Guidelines :,D
lol seize the material. like it cost anything to produce and can't be found again. just as stupid as making marijuana illegal.
this makes me mad...
I hope this guy gets shut down in my opinion genetic engineering is dangerous
>drink glowing beer for years >riddled with bizzare cancers years later
Reason can you not see why it takes years to approve things like this?
Fernando Andrade Did you not watch the video?
Yeah I did watch the video and a lab rat glowing green doesnt mean its safe in the long term. Thats what the FDA wants you to prove before you sell this shit for consumption.
wtf, I hate libertarianism now!
The dogmatic libertarians ruin libertarianism with shit like this
you're free not to buy it, drink it, sell it etc. would your royal highness grant me the right to drink it or sell it to other WILLING consumers? most of the medical advances which have probably kept you alive, relied on someone being a guinea pig at some point. penicillin, vaccines, anaesthetics etc
Do not trust such "hacks" because they truly do not know the long term implications of such changes.
so how will we ever find out?
COVID vaccine is a hack then lol.
Make me a perfect lsd mushroom
Peace.
But I think the masses, rules over by the Europeans, are too primitive for this and many other technologies!
Muahammad The Just I think you are too primitive to decide who is or isn't too primitive for which technologies.