1. Introduction
The book Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life by Marcus Wohlsen illustrates
about the grass root movements of the biohackers who dream for billion dollar ideas. Genetic
modification is direct human manipulation of an organism’s genome with the use of the
current DNA technology. Genetic engineering is demanded in the field of research, medicine
and biotechnology. Few years back molecular biologist Ellen Jorgensen and the author
coaxed a new set of generic instructions coaxed a new set of genetic instructions into a vial of
bacteria (Marcus Wohlsen, 25). The new code, originally from jellyfish, successfully
programmed the bacteria to glow green. It was a meagre introduction to biotechnology. In
today’s world the number of biotech companies and research institute has started to work on
the genetic engineering to unlock the beginning of the new life again.
Genetic engineering is one of the important areas in the field of biotechnology. It causes the
cell change in the function of the living body that also include microorganisms, humans,
animals and plants (Vera Meyer, pp.177-185) Artificial manipulation is done in this
technology and also from one living organism to another, the genetic material is transferred.
The transfer of genetics is done separately in case of plants to plant, bacteria to plant and
virus to plant. With the help of the new technology and information in genetics the specific
traits will pass to their offspring. In the nature, because of the possible number of genes and
also because of the limited transfer technologies the combination of genetic is not often
found.
DNA Technology and today’s world
This book suggests about these DNA related technological activities and code it in to a new
life from scratch. The problem is not in coding through genetic technology in to a new life
but the issues are how effective and useful this technology is? Number of the scientists and
researchers state that this technology changes the genetic makeup of a living part with the
help of new genetic possibilities that describe about the heritable material for the organism
that might be either directly in to the cell or host and then it is joined together as whole with
the cell (Terrina Dickinson Laing, pp. 341-348).
In genetic technology DNA sequencing is important aspect of it and this is accepted by the

2. peoples because DNA sequencing uses the several methodologies to determine the nucleotide
bases like guanine, thymine, adenine and cytosine that are found in the DNA molecule. This
process is very clear and effective but the use of this process is not so easy because it needs
engagement of the DNA cells to the code for new life (I. Edward Alcamo, pp.63-69). DNA
sequencing methodologies are used to translate through the cells that produce a chain of
amino acids, and create proteins. These genetic and DNA activities can’t be ignored in the
human, plats and animal organisms.
Biopunk and nature of the thing
In this book the grass root movements of the biotech enthusiasts who are moving faraway
across the boundary of the traditional labs has been introduced very nicely can say that the
author keep this mind as nature of the things. . The nature of the thing is that people are not
satisfied with current results of science they demand to explore the reason and control it. The
technological revolution as personal computer started by shaggy übergeeks has reached to a
milestone in this today’s world. In that time the demand of the people was less but now it has
been so far that it can’t be imagine in words (Peter J. Bowler, 89-95). This is what is called a
change in the technological world. The edge of technological revolution in the biotechnology
field specifically in the genetic engineering doesn’t seem to be comparable to the earlier
edges. As like the programming nerds, the biohackers also have some social quirks but it also
leads to the creative disruption. The author explains that these hackers in the biotechnology
area come for different reasons such as some of for the pleasure of learning and some to show
the power of bending life according to their wish.
It is assumed that the biological will shape the physical world as the information age has
shaped the data. Not only this, but this hacking of the life through the use of different
technologies in DNA and genetics explains that the new things in the nature are going to be
changed based on the wish of the human. The varieties of these technologies involve
improvement of the food quality, solving medical issues and are conservative. Tom Knight, a
tech-guru-cum-biotech-patron, describes about the new age of the biohackers and focuses on
the cell which he considers as the most innovative manufacturing plant ever made in the
world (Venter J; Adams, pp. 1304-51).
It gives strength to manipulating the cells in easy way and transforming it in to another form.
The author says that the transition of the world can be done from the capital intensive

3. manufacturing to the replication for lower costs. Biopunk comes in the picture because we
suck in the engineering biology. Numbers of biotech industries are also changing the way of
hacking the life as biohackers and transforming the genes to another gene through replication
technology. The technology that has evolved the cell to the computer is more advanced and
companies as focusing more on it.

4. Movement’s impact to human, nature and society
Biopunks, the author argues as are on the edge of technological revolution in this modern
world. These technologies have mostly affected the humans because the transition is mostly
occurring in the humans. This movement has also produced a burgeoning class of
entrepreneurs who always think as for a new billion dollar idea coming out from the biotech
hacking activities of life. The biohackers tycoons is not emerged fully yet but it is expected to
be emerge soon (Valerie K, pp.5782-812). The effect is such that most of the manufacturing
companies will not spend a lot on the raw materials but instead of that rapid producing cell
will be used for manufacturing because in essence the cell will behave as factory and product.
The growing community of the DIY scientists working to democratizing DNA in the same
way as internet did information.
Biohacking movement aims to outbreak of genetically modified innovation through making
tools and techniques in the field of biotechnology. Biopunk works on the idea of open
sourcing the basic code of life and believe in the power of individuals that access to DNA and
solve the biggest issues in the world. Now scientists are only producing the raw materials
with the help of genetically modified organisms. The biotech industries are using the
modified organisms and algae instead of the fossil fuels. Chemical industries are teaming
with the enzyme designers so that plastics can directly grow bacteria. According to MIT
biologist Angela Belcher, the modified organisms’ virus grows the batteries and solar panels.
(Marcus Wohlsen, 86) Two scientists also developed a machine as size of cell phone which
copies the DNA and can be plugged in to the computer.
The young scientists are not only pushing the boundary of DNA coding but also making the
bioengineering cheaper and easily accessible for all. It is affecting to the life, working culture
and thinking of the humans in a new way. Mostly the effect of this technology on the lives is
positive but in case when human do based on his desire might cause issues to the lives. The
biotech companies, chemical companies, manufacturing companies, humans, animals and
plant mostly affect because of these technologies in the bioengineering field. Individuals’ bio
punk will greatly affect if anything happens in the DNA or genetic engineering activities.
Acceptance or Rejection of the technology
Humans from the ages are the most dominated create to adopt or reject anything that is
introduced to the nature first. Biopunks are considered as the new segment of the society

5. which transform the plant, human or virus in to another desirable form because of the
innovation through biohackers and cell transformation (Dahm R, pp. 561-82). The
technology should adopt because it helps in between the human and other species Medical
treatment became easy, change of cell formation made effective, improvement in
manufacturing processes, lowering the costs of manufacturing; there are many things which
suggest accepting the changes and new technology. It should not be only use for the purpose
of making money by the firms, should not be restrict to human society for own good, should
use in nature reformation. For example, a woman who developed a genetic test for deadly
disease considered as for the right use for humans.
Conclusion
The book Biopunk has introduced to a new segment of society as biohackers based on the
research from 2008 to 2010. DNA or Genetic engineering is very useful in cell transition to
the new form that is useful for the human, animal, and plant lives. Many industries didn’t
invest for manufacturing but instead of that used cell replication for lowering the cost. DNA
sequencing is important methodology of the better cell transition. There are many benefits
because of this new technology in the bioengineering area. Final conclusion is that biopunks
by Marcus Wohlsen illustrates the possibilities of the biohackers movements in genetic
engineering.

6. References:
1. Peter J. Bowler, The Mendelian Revolution: The Emergency of Hereditarian
Concepts in Modern Science and Society (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,
1989, pp. 89-95
2. Vera Meyer, Biotechnology Advances, Volume 26, Issue 2, March–April 2008, Pages
177-185
3. I. Edward Alcamo, DNA Technology (Second Edition), 2001, Pages 69-93
4. Terrina Dickinson Laing, David C.W. Mah, Robert T. Poirier, Faouzi Bekkaoui,
William E. Lee, Douglas E. Bader, Molecular and Cellular Probes, Volume 18, Issue
5, October 2004, Pages 341-348
5. Venter J; Adams, MD; Myers, EW; Li, PW; Mural, RJ; Sutton, GG; Smith, HO;
Yandell, M et al. (2001). "The sequence of the human genome". Science 291 (5507):
1304–51.
6. Valerie K, Povirk L (2003). "Regulation and mechanisms of mammalian
double-strand break repair". Oncogene 22 (37): 5792–812
7. Marcus Wohlsen (2011), Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life
8. Dahm R (2008). "Discovering DNA: Friedrich Miescher and the early years of
nucleic acid research". Hum. Genet. 122 (6): 565–81