There is a growing trend of hobbyists and garage-entrepreneurs who experiment with genetic engineering. Also known as “bio-hacking”, these enterprising individuals are able to buy biotech equipment very cheaply, usually from eBay or Craigslist to make their own makeshift labs complete with all the equipment necessary to tinker with the DNA of simple organisms. These bio-hackers have a noble goal: to make the world a better place. Synthetic DNA for a variety of organisms can be easily bought online, and bio-hackers are engaged in a wide range of activities, from trying to find a cure for cancer, to making harmless bacteria glow in the dark.
This amateur scientist community is thriving, and their blogs and experiences can be found on websites such as DIYbio.com, (which stands for do-it-yourself biology) an organization that helps amateurs and hobbyists share information regarding their bio-hacking pursuits. However, there is a great deal of concern regarding this new brand of scientific experimentation. An organism that is modified, even in a benign way, could severely disrupt the ecosystem if released into the environment. At the moment, the oversight for this group of scientists is done through self-policing. Many experts are concerned with the potential abuse of bio-engineering and the development of dangerous new pathogens and viruses. Proponents of biohacking respond to security concerns by pointing out that hazardous DNA sequences are already public, whether it be Ebola, H5N1, and even the 1918 plague.
Organizations such as DIYbio argue that widespread, collaborative biohacking increases security by exposing lab work in a transparent public setting. Furthermore, proponents of bio-hacking argue that their activities are aimed at making science more transparent, affordable, and beneficial for greater number of people. Regardless of these benefits, this type of amateur biology has security officials in the US very worried. It will be interesting to see what steps the government will take, if any, to regulate these activities in the future.