It is predicted that the ability to read/write DNA cheaply at scale will revolutionize biology, but what happens after the DNA has been printed? I will explain the basics of genetic engineering at home and how it can be useful now and in the future. This talk will cover building a basic lab, DNA design and assembly, transformation of actual living organisms, and the relevant safety and security concerns. If time permits, I will talk about open source projects and engineering principles as applied to genetics. I will also briefly explain how this applies to human genome editing, even though I have been referring to the genetic engineering of microbes. This talk should provide you with a better understanding of genetic engineering and how to get started at home or a local hackerspace.
Keoni Gandall is currently a student at Edison High School as well as an active member of the DIYbio community. Over the past two years, he has worked in the liulab at UCI with in vivo directed evolution systems, at LA Biohackers as a main contributor to their iGEM project, and at home doing independent research & development. In 2013, he won first place at the Broadcom Masters national science fair for creating an Archaea plasmid using his home lab. This is his second year at DEF CON and he is still here to learn, but he is even more excited to share the basics of genetic engineering with the larger hacker community. Keoni is dedicated to the practical development of new biological technologies in the 21st century. Genetic engineering - Genetically modifying organisms for fun and profit Find out how genetically modified organisms are created. This talk for will focus introducing the basics of DIY genetic engineering for the uninitiated. With the knowledge provided in this talk, you can get started on the path to doing citizen science and maybe even making the next great scientific breakthrough (with a lot dedication, discipline, and focus). Learn how a protein that's part a bacterial immune system can be used to edit an organism genes. Find out how a the equivalent of Denial of Service attacks are used to smuggle DNA into yeast cells. Get info on what equipment is needed to get started in the emerging field of synthetic biology.
Johan's day job is IT security, but at night he's immersed in science. He has been involved with DIY Biology projects for about two years. With help from many, he leads the lab work for the Real Vegan Cheese project. The Real Vegan Cheese project, which won a Gold medal at the 2014 iGEM competition, aims to produce milk proteins via yeast and thus enable a source of cheese that doesn't require animals.