Androidal Automatons

My recent delving into the world of fabbers has me quite expanded considering the possibilities of automating devices like that seen in “Fifth Element” where LeeLu is recovered from trace amounts of DNA. Already there are “Histo-Bots” that build prostheses and build prototypical structures from precultured tissues via inkjet technology. Often times porcine cartilage is used to create structure when growing these new organs. Recently the ability to print 3d stainless steel structures has been engineered as well, although stll pricey the commercial versions of these technologies are bound to continue the same trends of acessibility and power that we’ve seen in communications and IT.

From what I’m hearing in the Hessel presentation, is that the ability of lab robotics has brought genetic synthesis to the point where DNA can be knitted and printed to the programmer’s specifications. Considering several of our populace have backgrounds in CNC construction and robotics, what would be the level of difficulty to design an open source or low tech/low cost histo-bot?

At the very least we should try and put together a micro-array.

http://en.allexperts.com/e/d/dn/dna_microarray.htm

The above ink-jet microarray was made as an open-source project that cost a lab about $34,000 to make back in 2004. If Moore’s Law holds, would that make this roughly over $1000 to make now. And with so many robotics experts to draw upon, could we not engineer the wireless/usb desktop printer version that can do 1 to 2 slides at a time on the go for mobility?

As it would add exponential functionality to all further research we do.

Researcher, Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University has created similar low tech solutions, that I think the resources of this community could easily replicate. Check out this video about his printers that can pop out a human heart in around an hour. (once the cells are ready that is)Could be a fantastic life-saving piece of equipment for victims of severe trauma or burns. Synthetic skin cells have been around for ages, but what about inventions like digital tattoos made of OLED’s, with an animated gifs, or RFID like receiver.

The whole thing makes me think over and over of Sebastian, Tris, & ETyrell. I’ve had Blade Runner running overtime in my subconscious. What was it? “If only you knew what I saw with your eyes…”