DIY kit makes gene editing accessible to all

Plus: NASA just test-fired a rocket designed to power long-term Moon trips. Jan 28, 2023 [Blueprint]( Who would have thought that we would be able to experiment with CRISPR gene editing from the comfort of our homes one day? This is what science is for; it makes things we can't even imagine possible. Biohacker and artist Jo Zayner founded a [company named The ODIN]( to make genetic engineering education more accessible through DIY kits and classes. Well, you might doubt it, but Lana Schwartz, a reporter from Vice, got the company’s “DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit” and shared her experiences using it. Before diving deeper into her experiences with the tool, let’s take a look at [our video of the day]( and discover what's inside the world's deepest artificial hole. Good morning. I’m Mert, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard from the people behind the world’s largest aircraft, and what exactly they want to do with it. This week, they’ll hear from metaverse expert James Coop on why — despite what Bill Gates says — the metaverse really does have the power to change the world. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [What's inside the world's deepest artificial hole]( [world's deepest artificial hole]( This fascinating deep dive into the history of the Kola Superdeep Borehole is not as boring as you might think. [Must Read]MUST READ [DIY gene editing: This home use kit makes CRISPR accessible to all]( Genetic engineering for everyone! Yes, this is possible thanks to biohacker and artist [Jo Zayner's DIY kits and classes](. It's possible that you met Zayner on Netflix through the documentary called "Unnatural Selections," which was released in 2019. It revealed how DNA could be changed using CRISPR technology. By establishing The ODIN, Zayner's genetic engineering education became accessible with kits such as the "DIY Bacterial Gene Engineering CRISPR Kit." Well, you may hesitate to use it, but Lana Schwartz from Vice didn't and shared her experiences. According to Schwartz, she felt like she was cooking during the lessons and while working on the experiment kit, and she even said that she thought she could apply this experiment to her DNA after a while. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [NASA just test-fired a rocket designed to power long-term Moon trips]( [NASA's propulsion development]( engineers have built and tested the agency's first full-scale rotating detonation rocket engine, or RDRE for short. This advanced rocket engine design could change how propulsion systems are built in the future in a big way. This work comes as NASA begins to take the first steps toward establishing a long-term presence on the surface of the Moon. By proving that its hardware, constructed using cutting-edge additive manufacturing or 3D printing, designs, and processes, could function for extended periods while withstanding the intense heat and pressure produced by detonations, the RDRE successfully met its main test objective. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [HEALTH]HEALTH [A new AI-powered gene-editing technique could be set to replace CRISPR]( A new study has developed what the researchers call the "world's first" simple, modifiable proteins. Called "zinc fingers," these special proteins were developed partially through artificial intelligence. Scientists from the University of Toronto and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine [came up with the method]( which is expected to speed up the development of gene therapies. This could be a game-changer for how doctors treat DNA mistakes that happen over time. This is partly because our genes change naturally as we age, which makes it inevitable that mistakes will happen. Or, of course, from genetic disorders inherited at birth. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [CULTURE]CULTURE [AI lawyer cancels court date after threats of jail time surface]( Earlier this month, we reported how a program trained with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) was set to help a defendant contest his case in a U.S. court next month. Instead of addressing the court, the program, which will run on a smartphone, would supply appropriate responses through an earpiece to the defendant, who can then use them in the courtroom. Now, [the effort will be dropped]( after the owner of the program, Joshua Browder, the CEO of the New York-based startup DoNotPay, received threats of possible prosecution and jail time. “Multiple state bar associations have threatened us," Browder told NPR. "One even said a referral to the district attorney's office and prosecution and prison time would be possible." [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS A DIY gene editing kit makes CRISPR accessible to all. Do you think experimenting with DIY gene editing tools is safe? [Yes, so exciting]( [No way]( [I have no clue]( [I wouldn’t even bother]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday we announced that US hypersonic missile 'Mayhem' got a boost from Kratos and we asked what other applications you thought this technology might have. An overwhelming 44 percent of you believed it was for military purposes. 44% Other military purposes 25% Commercial air travel 19% Space travel 13% Something else entirely [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “We are survival machines, robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.” Richard Dawkins, English biologist. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Smart Reusable Rocketbook]( [image]( [Sawyer Wine Bar]( [image]( [Wooden Docking Station]( [image]( [KuccHero Outdoor Bluetooth Camping Speaker]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - Researchers [broke the record]( for the shortest pulse of electrons ever. - There's a ['lost city' deep in the ocean]( and it's unlike anything we've ever seen. (ScienceAlert) - NASA's InSight lander [revealed the heart of Mars]( — here's how. [premium] - Speed record [shattered for data transmission]( over standard optical fiber. (New Atlas) - How Oracle's test smart city [may pioneer]( bold ideas for construction. [premium] - Study [achieves the coherent manipulation]( of electron spins in silicon. (Phys.org) - Dinosaurs [kept warm]( — and accidentally survived a mass extinction event. [premium] Prepared by Mert Erdemir Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? 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