Rebecca Zisser / Axios
Imagine a scientist experimenting on her own genes from her kitchen, rather than going to a physician, because she wants to cure a medical ailment. Another "do-it-yourself" scientist across the country extracts DNA samples from plants to figure out how they affect its growth.
DIY biohacking is a relatively new phenomenon in which scientists (typically those with an interest in genetic engineering) want to take biology experimentation outside of the lab or classroom. Currently, it's mostly used for medical purposes, but the future of DIY biohacking could look a lot different. So we asked four experts a simple question: By the year 2040, what will be the gene most edited via DIY biohacking?
- Arthur Caplan, NYU bioethicist, and Carolyn Neuhaus, NYU postdoctoral fellow: The future of fun is in biohackers' hands
- Sarah Richardson, co-founder of Microbyre: DNA is not a programming language
- Josiah Zayner, biohacker and CEO of The-ODIN: Non-medical DIY biohacking can create a better high
- Geoffrey Woo, CEO of HVMN, a human enhancement supplement maker: Manipulate metabolic health to live longer