DIYbio, bio-hacking and transgenic art.

[Agent Intellect]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIYbio

http://www.ekac.org/transgenic.html

Any thoughts as to whether this is a good idea? What are possible benefits/detriments?

Should non-scientists, amateurs, citizens etc. have access to and/or be allowed to perform genetic experiments and bioengineering on their own?

To me, it seems like a lot of technological innovation could come from decentralization - putting it in the hands of many different people as opposed to keeping it condensed to only certain institutions and regulated by the government. It also seems like it's the way technology tends to go. As we progress, the consumer becomes more and more knowledgeable and able to find novel ways around obstacles (just think of pirating and the trouble entertainment industries have controlling that).

Also, if one were to do this, where would they even start?

 

[Cognisant]

Bugs I think, hard to go wrong there and you can breed out any mistakes in a very short period of time, but no so short that it may become hard to control, custom butterflies perhaps?

 

[Architect]

Should non-scientists, amateurs, citizens etc. have access to and/or be allowed to perform genetic experiments and bioengineering on their own?

Sure, isn't that called 'having a baby'?

 

[Irukanji]

Selective breeding comes to mind. Ideally you'll use something which can take care of itself if you provide its food/water/shelter and have a reasonably high tolerance to "mistakes". And naturally by mistakes I mean forcing it to adapt to harsh conditions such as cold, hot, humid, poisons in the food, etc. It sounds cruel, and it is for most creatures, but that's the only way you'll be able to do it short of spending a few hundred dollars on a clean room and some expensive equipment.

Luckily its easy and cheap, so long as your subjects don't die too often. Mice would also work, but poisoning them to maybe get a trait which resists the poison would be frowned upon by a judge if somebody calls "animal cruelty" on your operation.