HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

3-D Printing DNA: Hacking Life's Code and Creating New Organisms

Views:886
@ReasonVids

Q&A With Cambrian Genomics' Austen Heinz
---
"To think that we can't make organisms that aren't more efficient than existing, I don't think is correct," says Austen Heinz, founder of the biotech startup Cambrian Genomics. "Because nature doesn't have DNA laser printers, and we do."

Reason TV's Zach Weissmueller sat down with Heinz to discuss the ramifications of a technology that dramatically brings down the cost of sequencing and assembling DNA, suddenly making the ability for consumers to create their own organisms an economic reality. Heinz partnered with a company to crowdfund a "glowing plant," which led to a subsequent ban on GMO-related projects on Kickstarter, and he expresses concern with the lagging regulatory structure governing biotech development. But Heinz is undeterred by regulatory and cultural obstacles and foresees a future where consumers can affordably leverage his technology to fix errors in their own DNA or even design their own creatures in the same way that 3-D printing companies like MakerBot allow for custom models.

"With MakerBot, you would print out, say, a plastic dinosaur. With Cambrian, the idea is that eventually you'll be able to print out your own little dinosaur that actually walks across the table," says Heinz. "Everything around us is just code. Wouldn't it be great if we could just snap our fingers and just re-imagine the world around us, where everything is programmable, everthing is re-writeable?"

Approximately 10 minutes. Produced by Zach Weissmueller. Camera by Justin Monticello. Music by Chris Zabriskie.

Scroll down for downloadable versions of this video, and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel for daily content like this.

3d printing
,
dna (chemical compound)
,
genetically modified organism (film subject)
,
gmo
,
technology
,
biotechnology (industry)
,
biotech
,
silicon valley (region)
,
libertarian
,
regulation
,
fda
,
reason magazine
    Thumbnail for FCC's Ajit Pai: Net Neutrality is a "Solution That Won't Work to a Problem That Doesn't Exist"31:16
    FCC's Ajit Pai: Net Neutrality is a "Solution That Won't Work to a Problem That Doesn't Exist"
    ReasonVids
    980 views
    Thumbnail for Adam Ruins Everything's Adam Conover on Skepticism, the TSA, and Cultural Myths9:45
    Adam Ruins Everything's Adam Conover on Skepticism, the TSA, and Cultural Myths
    ReasonVids
    936 views
    Thumbnail for How Payday Lenders & Check Cashers Help the Poor13:11
    How Payday Lenders & Check Cashers Help the Poor
    ReasonVids
    940 views
    Thumbnail for Bob Barr Debates Obama/McCain9:56
    Bob Barr Debates Obama/McCain
    ReasonVids
    945 views
    Thumbnail for The Lion King5:35:33
    The Lion King
    mknezz109
    187 views
    Thumbnail for Environmentalism, Innovation & Economics: Author Ramez Naam11:33
    Environmentalism, Innovation & Economics: Author Ramez Naam
    ReasonVids
    956 views
    Thumbnail for How Pot Went Legit: Q+A With Weed Land's Peter Hecht37:51
    How Pot Went Legit: Q+A With Weed Land's Peter Hecht
    ReasonVids
    1000 views
    Thumbnail for Blacks are waking up about the jews1:35
    Blacks are waking up about the jews
    AOU
    1927 views
    Thumbnail for Assista na íntegra o Balanço Geral 21/04/2025 | MIRAMAR1:00
    Assista na íntegra o Balanço Geral 21/04/2025 | MIRAMAR
    invidious
    152 views
    Thumbnail for Someone Found a Color 8mm Home Video from 1939 and the Quality is Amazing15:07
    Someone Found a Color 8mm Home Video from 1939 and the Quality is Amazing
    bestofpoal
    1343 views
    Thumbnail for OH MY GOD PADDY PIMBLETT 🤯 #ufc314 | UFC0:20
    OH MY GOD PADDY PIMBLETT 🤯 #ufc314 | UFC
    invidious
    90 views
    Thumbnail for 補正下着の中から覚醒剤 メキシコ人の男女を逮捕 成田空港(2023年5月2日) | ANNnewsCH1:15
    補正下着の中から覚醒剤 メキシコ人の男女を逮捕 成田空港(2023年5月2日) | ANNnewsCH
    invidious
    455 views
    Thumbnail for Recycled Bedsheets Make The Best Waterproof Tarps | NightHawkInLight8:56
    Recycled Bedsheets Make The Best Waterproof Tarps | NightHawkInLight
    invidious
    513 views
    Thumbnail for What Afghans Think About Bergdahl, the Taliban, and U.S. Intervention: Q&A with Author Anand Gopal6:10
    What Afghans Think About Bergdahl, the Taliban, and U.S. Intervention: Q&A with Author Anand Gopal
    ReasonVids
    874 views
    Thumbnail for XỬ ÁN - Xúc Rác Trùm Đại Ca Đoàn Du Lịch Ăn Xin Từ Thiện Minh Tuệ Dụ Án CỤC XƯƠNG 🐕 | Lực Tàng1:00:00
    XỬ ÁN - Xúc Rác Trùm Đại Ca Đoàn Du Lịch Ăn Xin Từ Thiện Minh Tuệ Dụ Án CỤC XƯƠNG 🐕 | Lực Tàng
    invidious
    120 views
    Thumbnail for Rabbi explains why Hitler did what he did3:32
    Rabbi explains why Hitler did what he did
    AOU
    2337 views
    Thumbnail for Democrats are suddenly quiet on climate change | Washington Post Universe0:47
    Democrats are suddenly quiet on climate change | Washington Post Universe
    invidious
    213 views
    Thumbnail for What's the file on your desk0:21
    What's the file on your desk
    bestofupgoat
    57 views
    Thumbnail for REVISIÓN 2024 | Maná, Camila, Pepe Aguilar... Un año lleno de personalidades | PROGRAMA COMPLETO1:26:30
    REVISIÓN 2024 | Maná, Camila, Pepe Aguilar... Un año lleno de personalidades | PROGRAMA COMPLETO
    invidious
    150 views
    Thumbnail for Patriot Front at Purdue Pharma (2020-03)3:33
    Patriot Front at Purdue Pharma (2020-03)
    PatriotFrontArchive
    1103 views
    Thumbnail for Johan Norberg vs. Naomi Klein and The Shock Doctrine8:52
    Johan Norberg vs. Naomi Klein and The Shock Doctrine
    ReasonVids
    953 views
    Thumbnail for Prepare For The Worst | Live From The Lair15:44
    Prepare For The Worst | Live From The Lair
    Terrence Popp
    1762 views
    Thumbnail for HOW I MAKE MY BALLET SKIRTS! | INTRODUCING NOELLE DANCE WEAR | dancingwithmackenzie12:11
    HOW I MAKE MY BALLET SKIRTS! | INTRODUCING NOELLE DANCE WEAR | dancingwithmackenzie
    Invidious2
    19 views
    Thumbnail for Feds Hounded 'Net Activist Aaron Swartz, Says EFF's Parker Higgins8:11
    Feds Hounded 'Net Activist Aaron Swartz, Says EFF's Parker Higgins
    ReasonVids
    1059 views
    Thumbnail for Kabobnigger tests the Toyota Landcruiser FJ auto eject feature 🚀😆😆0:54
    Kabobnigger tests the Toyota Landcruiser FJ auto eject feature 🚀😆😆
    bestofupgoat
    267 views

points

Permalink
Reply
3d printing
,
dna (chemical compound)
,
genetically modified organism (film subject)
,
gmo
,
technology
,
biotechnology (industry)
,
biotech
,
silicon valley (region)
,
libertarian
,
regulation
,
fda
,
reason magazine
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle