Avoid the Newbie Errors

Sandra Porter wrote an article over at GT on DIY biology that she's been getting some feedback on, writing that she "managed to offend some people by suggesting doing biotechnology successfully at home might mean that you actually have to learn some biology." On her blog, she addresses some of the complaints she's received. Porter says that she doesn't object to people learning outside a university or teaching themselves biotechnology techniques, but does say that DIYers should be cognizant of potential hazards that come with working with certain strains of bacteria and that they should be aware that there are plenty of places to look for information, so some mistakes -- Porter points to one attempt to insert an E. coli plasmid into Lactobacillus and expecting it to work -- can be avoided.