Demystify science | What is biopirating?

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Posted at 5:00 a.m.

The biohackingor biopiratage. For example, is a movement that appeared almost 20 years ago which wants to democratize synthetic biology, a bit like the personal computer has democratized computer science.

«The biohacking appeared in 2008. Therefore, under the leadership of former IT computer scientists [Massachussets Institute of Technology]which considered that the living would be at the heart of the new technological revolution, demystify science | what biopirating? that it would be more biological than based on silicone, “explains Daphné Esquivel Sada, a Montreal sociologist who studied the question in his doctorate. Consequently, “They wanted to launch communities of biotechnology. Moreover, community laboratories, and had the support of great figures of Harvard and Stanford in synthetic biology. However, »»

The term “ biohacker Was invented by a journalist from Washington Post In 1988. Therefore, but it was a pure speculation which took 20 years to materialize. Meanwhile, In French, biopirate and biopirating terms are used.

The objective was to take genetic sequences and manipulate them as we write computer code, specifies M^me Esquivel Sada. Furthermore, “We also wanted to be inspired by the open code [open source]. For example, It was a criticism of the privatization of scientific data in biology. The idea was that one day. anyone demystify science | what biopirating? could make a vaccine at home, aspirin, a vitamin supplement or bioluminescent plants to illuminate his house. »»

GMO – Demystify science | what biopirating?

Biopiration networks quickly became global. But there was an important difference between the United States and Canada, and Europe. “Here, there is more freedom than in Europe. We can make for example the genetic transformation of bacteria. as long as it is a level of biosecurity 1, but not in Europe, indicates Daphne Esquivel Sada. So, the biohackers Europeans have rather taken care of developing organic paintings or anti-GM tests. Here, there is a more libertarian culture, to “do it yourself” [do it yourself]. »Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are improved agricultural plants by genetic engineering.

American biopirates are also very supported by GMOs and want to defeat the fear of these foods. “They want to transform the demystify science | what biopirating? GMOs into something trivial, fun,” observes the Montreal sociologist. There are some who say “I’m proud to drink it”. They see the desire to regulate GMOs in Europe and elsewhere as an unfounded fear, a poor understanding of science. »»

Bioartists

The modification of microorganisms permitted by the American. Canadian authorities has notably led biopirates to produce new genetically modified yeasts for beer or bread, or to produce works of art with genetically modified bacteria. M^me Esquivel Sada cites Tagny Duff in particular, communications professor at Concordia University, who makes “biological art”.

Consult the Tagny Duff website (in English)

Other bioartists have sought to transform their own body. in order to improve their vision or their hearing, or to integrate fleas into their brains. “There is even a guy during the covid who demystify science | what biopirating? had injected himself with gene therapy,” says^me Esquivel Sada. But these transformations are a bit controversial, so their practitioners are not very open to talking about it. As we are far from being able to improve your senses by genetic modification. bioartists are content for the moment of currently possible modifications, as an ear -shaped chip grafted on the arm.

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