A video uploaded by the former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researcher Josia Zayner to his own body of CRISPR protein has been watched nearly 100,000 times recently. Although Zayner is “skeptical†about the possibility of changes in his left arm muscles, domestic biologists have also considered this to be a “gimmickâ€, but undoubtedly, the “bio-hacker†represented by Zayner has been known by more people. .
Use your body to unlock your device
“The 'biological hacking' is probably the beginning of the 21st century.†Dr. Zhang Haoqian, co-founder and chief technology officer of Bluepha, a synthetic biotechnology company that is considered a “bio-hacker,†analyzed, “The Internet boom in the late 1990s. With the popularity of the Internet culture, there is a dialect who is beginning to consider connecting humans and electronics."
For example, some people are dissatisfied with the fact that the human body cannot perceive the invisible magnetic field around the Earth, so the magnet is implanted in the sensitive hand. In addition, there is also a project called Bottlenose that captures various information that is invisible to the naked eye, such as sonar, ultraviolet light, WiFi and thermal data, and is transmitted to the magnets implanted in the body.
Last year, Dutch bio-hacker Patrick Paumen, who came to participate in the 2017 China Internet Security Conference (ISC) DC010 hacking activities, has drawn great attention. He implanted 14 chips in the body, through which Paumen can interact with various electronic devices such as access control systems, door locks, and smartphones.
Implanted chips are not too addictive to change genes more exciting
In the pursuit of immortality and making yourself stronger, human beings are never lacking in imagination. After the emergence of gene editing technology, bio-hackers have found another weapon to arm themselves.
Previously, an HIV-infected person lived on Facebook to perform a gene editing treatment on his own by injection. He believes that the products he uses can allow his body to produce antibodies that destroy cells infected with HIV. And this genetic material comes from a small, start-up company that promotes decentralized drug testing.
Another company, The Odin, also sells many DIY bio-products, such as a barrel of yeast that uses CRISPR technology to cut off the ends of the gene. In 2016, the company sold more than $200,000 in products. The aforementioned Zayner is the founder of The Odin.
According to reports, Zayner's experiment on himself is not a whim. He suffered from severe stomach problems, and the pain of his illness made him have the idea of ​​self-experiment. In February 2016, Zayner implanted a microbial transplant of his body, removed and rebuilt the body's colonies, and Zayner successfully transplanted healthy fecal bacteria to himself.
Zayner's behavior has been questioned a lot. The US Food and Drug Administration has previously issued a rather rigorous statement warning consumers who are considering self-genetic gene therapy products: "The sale of these products is illegal. The FDA is very concerned about their safety."
As for injecting genes into your body, this is a blind spot for supervision.
Let the popularization of scientific research be the essence
Zhang Haoqian believes that in addition to the controversial genetic modification and the connection between the human body and the Internet, "bio-hackers" are more often referred to as biologists who are keen on their own hands. "'Biology hackers' are equivalent to 'biological makers' and they are committed to making civilian research on the taller."
“Several Dutch researchers who participated in the International Genetic Engineering Machine Design Competition (iGEM) with me later went to start a business. Their main business is DIY various experimental equipment to lower the threshold of scientific research and education.†Zhang Haoqian said that this The company will have a centrifuge with a minimum price of 20,000 yuan to achieve a few hundred dollars.
In China, Zhang Haoqian and his colleagues are doing similar things. "It seems that there is no such thing as transforming one's own body in China. After all, our culture is relatively conservative, and the culture of makers or hackers is not so developed."
For his "bio-creator" identity, Zhang Haoqian said with a smile, "Okay." The company he founded is currently engaged in serious synthetic biology research. For example, they previously found a strain of biodegradable plastics from Aiding Lake in Xinjiang, and then reprogrammed the genetic program with synthetic biotechnology. Industrial production.
“Our part-time job is to do biological knowledge and technical training for middle and high school students. This part of the work is similar to 'bio hacking'.†He said that under their guidance, students can create different tastes or colors, each Shaped microorganisms.
As for safety, Zhang Haoqian said: "The object of our transformation is microbes, which is very safe, because microorganisms are easy to control. With the development of technology, the state should also introduce relevant regulations."
In fact, the "Biotechnology Research and Development Safety Management Measures" issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology has been aimed at standardizing biotechnology research and development behaviors, promoting and ensuring the healthy and orderly development of biotechnology research and development activities. (Technology Daily)
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