N
O
8
AB S T R AK T
EX
CE
RP
T
POCKET L ABOR ATORY FOR THE FUTURE
—
THE POWER OF MAKING
The rise of the do-it-yourself culture
With stories about the value of mediocrity,
super-spreaders and the land of power giants
E C O NO M Y
E D U C AT I O N A N D R E S E A RC H
P H I L O S O P H Y
E C O L O G Y
T E C H NO L O G Y
S O C I E T Y
B I O L O G Y
T H E P OW E R O F M A K I N G
E S S AY S & I N T E RV I E W S
14
Material is the mother of invention | Interview with Richard Sennett
22
3D printing a new economy | By Jack Roberts
36
Hand-crafting is a luxury | Interview with Lino Guzzella
44
Getting to grips with grasping | By Gerd Folkers
52
Plastic is the new diamond | Interview with David de Rothschild
64
How technology will save us | Interview with Daniel Hirschmann
74
Plucking things | By PeterLicht
84
The revolt of the hand-crafters | Interview with Marc Dusseiller
92
DIY culture
94
Metamap
98
T H E A N A L O G U E B L O G
I D E A S , FAC T S & F I C T I O N S
Stories about the value of mediocrity,
super-spreaders and the land of power giants
152
W.I . R . E .
S O C I E T Y
T H E R E VO LT
O F T H E
H A N D - C R A F T E R S
Interview with Marc Dusseiller
By Max Celko
Ensconced in garage labs, a young generation of amateurs is
getting down to work: the biohackers, biology's answer to the
computer nerds of the late 1970s. Marc Dusseiller co-found-
ed the hacker network Hackteria. Nevertheless, he doesn’t be-
lieve that the Bill Gates of do-it-yourself research will be dis-
covered in this scene.
Marc, you are a co-initiator of Hackteria, an international
network of biohackers. What exactly is biohacking?
Let’s start with the term “hacking”. Because definitions of it
vary widely to start with. For us, hacking means a creative
way of examining technology and finding new applications
for it. In somewhat overdrawn terms, a hacker is someone
who enjoys making toast with a coffee-maker. The public
often associates hacking with the misuse of computer hard-
ware and software, nothing else. In reality, however, that’s
only a very small part of the scene. And in addition to con-
ventional technology hacking, there is another field, i.e. bio-
hacking, which is about the creative redesign of living, bio-
logical systems – in other words, the hacking of so-called
wetware.
86
T H E P OW E R O F M A K I N G
B I O L O G Y
Can you name examples?
There are very different areas of biohacking, which actually
isn’t really a new phenomenon at all. It includes orchid
growers who create a new strain of orchid by cross-breed-
ing. We, in contrast, represent a different type of biohack-
ing for which I personally prefer to use the expression DIY
biology. That term still has more of the vibe of the hand-
crafter tinkering around in his garage. People who grow al-
gae at home to produce biofuel fall into this category, for
example. Likewise DIY beer brewers or the mushroom-
picker scene, whose members set up elaborate home labs to
grow their own mushrooms.
What about DIY microbiology and genetics?
That’s right, those fields are also part of it. For example,
adding a fluorescent gene to bacteria so that they glow at
night is a popular experiment. Because the colour of the
glow effect can be controlled, patterns or even simple pic-
tures can be made. A research team from Osaka grew fluo-
rescent bacteria in the shape of Super Mario, the computer
game figure. But microbiology and genetics are only one
aspect of DIY biology. The subject is much broader. It also
includes all the life sciences, from agriculture through nu-
trition to medicine.
Why are more and more laypeople getting into biological
research?
Amateur scientists have always been around. As soon as a
technology is affordable for the bulk of the population,
people will start to experiment around with it. It was no
different with radio technology. After that came computers
and digital technologies. And the price of instruments for
microbiological and genetic research is falling and falling
nowadays. PCR
1
instruments, which can be used to analyse
gene sequences, were extremely expensive not long ago,
now they are available for USD 1000 or less, so the man in
the street can afford them.
What kind of people are active in the DIY biology scene?
There’s a wide variety. A lot of people in the scene have a
background in molecular biology. They pursue personal re-
search projects in the DIY bio environment in their free
time. Because at work they’re often tied into rigid struc-
tures that leave them little freedom to do their own experi-
ments. However, there are of course amateurs as well. Apart
from scientists, our Hackteria network contains artists,
philosophers, business people and even chefs who are in-
terested in microbiology and genetics.
Can such interdisciplinary collaboration deliver new find-
ings to official research as well?
It is often said that the next generation of pharma compa-
nies will be garage firms, similar to Gates or Jobs. I don’t be-
lieve that.
I’m inclined to think it’s improbable that ideas for
developing new drugs or solving the problem of world
hunger will come out of this scene. Because the DIY biolo-
gists mostly pursue research topics similar to those of the
commercial labs. I could wish for a greater willingness to
pursue alternative themes. Because the commercial indus-
trial labs are definitely better set up for cancer research or
the development of alternative energies.
1 Polymerase chain reaction is used in biological and medical laboratories for a number of tasks, e.g. to recognise hereditary
diseases and virus infections, to generate and inspect genetic fingerprints, to clone genes and prepare paternity tests. PCR numbers
among the most important methods of modern molecular biology and accounts for many scientific advances in this field.
88
T H E P OW E R O F M A K I N G
B I O L O G Y
So where does the social value added of doing your own re-
search lie?
A core social benefit is that the DIY bio scene also allows
laypeople access to the scientific debate. As a result, bio-
technology is being democratised, to some extent at least. I
think that’s very important, because we have now reached a
point where biotechnology is making incredibly fast pro-
gress and opening up entirely new possibilities for manipu-
lating live material. It’s now up to all of us to define together
as a society what research we want and what legal restric-
tions we will impose on biotechnology.
As a consequence of greater knowledge, people
are also less susceptible to populistic ideas from politicians
or empty marketing promises from the corporate world.
Where do you see untapped potential?
I see opportunities particularly for emerging economies.
For example, the DIY bio scene could contribute to the de-
velopment of low-cost scientific instruments and lab
equipment. That would enable people in poor countries to
do research into their own topics in simple garage labs,
things that are of no interest to any company because no fi-
nancial gain is expected. I myself was in Kenya recently and
presented projects of my own there, about low-cost diag-
nostic applications and agricultural labs. The aim is for even
people with limited financial means, barely any scientific
knowledge and a short supply of electricity to be able to
perform simple medical analyses and genetic screenings of
agricultural products. The latter are helpful, for example, in
livestock husbandry or horticulture. This approach should
also give people the courage to take the initiative and solve
their problems themselves, because they are no longer de-
pendent on big Western companies.
You were invited by the FBI to make an assessment of the
risks of DIY biology. Is it dangerous when laypeople can ge-
netically modify bacteria or viruses, for the purposes of ter-
rorist attacks, for example?
This subject has been hotly debated in the public domain.
But the fear is unfounded. I can’t imagine anything being
created in DIY labs that is dangerous to the environment or
to health. It takes an enormous amount of knowledge as
well as good equipment to produce a dangerous pathogen.
These conditions are not given in the DIY biology scene.
Additionally, dangerous microorganisms are not freely
available just like that.
And apart from that, it wouldn’t make a great deal
of sense for terrorists to smuggle themselves into the DIY
bio scene. Because there is a very intensive exchange of
views and information between the members, and if some-
one was trying to make dangerous pathogens the word
would soon get round.
What are the basics that are needed in order for laypeople
to get involved in biology?
The first step is to build an infrastructure. By that, I mean
simple biology labs under controlled conditions. In addi-
tion, you need a certain basic knowledge of electronics and
hardware hacking, which can be acquired very easily. A lot
of the techniques we use are extremely simple. The main
problem at present is that virtually no low-cost laboratory
infrastructure exists for hobby scientists as yet. Most of the
products on the market are designed for use in professional
labs. But that is gradually beginning to change. China, for
example, is already producing very cheap instruments for
the consumer sector. The entire spectrum is being covered
– from pipettes through microscopes to entire production
plants.
90
T H E P OW E R O F M A K I N G
B I O L O G Y
Are patent problems not an issue for the DIY bioscene? Af-
ter all, you do get microorganisms that are patented.
Nobody bothers about patents in this scene. But of course,
if you want to build a business with your creation you are
confronted with these issues. It’s no different from musical
compositions, which are protected by copyright.
A lot of artists are also active in the Hackteria network. Why
is the exchange between art and science so important to
you?
We’ve seen that a gap exists in the DIY bio environment:
DIY biologists are often close to the genetic engineering in-
dustry and sometimes deal with the subject very uncriti-
cally. At the same time, artists engaged in the themes of bi-
ology and life mostly spend their time in a theoretical ivory
tower. What we want is to bring the two spheres together.
People with a background in microbiology and genetics
should swap ideas with artists and philosophers and in do-
ing so try out new approaches in the context of DIY bio.
There is still a very great deal of untapped potential in niche
areas of biological research – but the prerequisite for using it
is for people from the widest possible variety of fields to
have access to research and be able to use it for their own
purposes.
Marc Dusseiller is a transdisciplinary scholar, lecturer for
micro- and nanotechnology, cultural facilitator and artist.
He works in an integral way to combine science, art and edu-
cation. He performs DIY workshops in lo-fi electronics, music
and robotics, has made various short movies and is currently
developing means to perform biological science (co-founder
of Hackteria | Open Source Biological Art) in a DIY fashion in
your kitchen or your atelier. He is also co-organises Dock18,
Room for Mediacultures, and various other engagments like
the diy* festival, national and international workshops for
artists, schools and children as the president of the Swiss Me-
chatronic Art Society, SGMK.
CO N TAC T
sia@thewire.ch
E D I TO R I A L S TA F F
Simone Achermann
Editor in chief, Researcher W.I.R.E.
Michèle Wannaz
Editor
Dr Stephan Sigrist
Head of W.I.R.E.
Dr Burkhard Varnholt
CIO, Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd
Prof. Dr Gerd Folkers
Director, Collegium Helveticum
E D I TO R I A L CO N T R I B U TO R S
Kristiani Lesmono, Jessica Levy, Barbara Brandmaier, Daniel Bütler,
Erika Burri, Melanie Biedermann, Max Celko
D E S I G N
Kristina Milkovic
Head of Graphic Design W.I.R.E.
Beth Hoeckel, bethhoeckel.com
Illustrations for visual essay
T R A N S L AT I O N
Helen E. Robertson, Philipp Albers
S U B E D I T I N G A N D P R I N T I N G
Neidhart + Schön AG
PA R T N E R
Neue Zürcher Zeitung Publishing
© N
o
8 2012 W.I.R.E.
ISBN 978-3-033-03610-9
Disclaimer: This publication is for information purposes only. Inasmuch as reference is made
herein to Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd, this constitutes neither an offer nor an inviation by Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd
to purchase or sell securities. The sole aim of this publication is communication. It should also be
noted that developments occurring in the past are not reliable indicators for developments in the future.
Picture credits: Unless otherwise noted, the rights belong to the authors or their legal successors.
We have endeavoured to find the owners of all rights. Should we nevertheless not have succeeded
in notifying any of the owners, they are requested to contact W.I.R.E. www.thewire.ch
Dostları ilə paylaş: |