To deter bioterrorism, U.S. imposes new rules on ordering synthetic DNA

I'm curious if this is related to some things the top AI models are uncovering.

We know we don't get to see the bio side of the top models. They're out there solving hard maths problems etc but a query with the word 'microbes' in it often kicks you back to a smaller model automatically.

Are the bleeding edge models finding something scary enough that can be done with synthetic DNA that it needs to be restricted asap?

This might impact me and a small handful of other people who have messing around with microbes in their apartment as a hobby. We'll see what happens.

The device used to make oligonucleotides is pretty much an inkjet printer, from there it's cleverly applied enzymes to assemble the full strand. If you've got the skills and determination to get the synthetic DNA into a functioning cell, I don't think limiting access to synthetic DNA in the first place is going to stop you.

> U.S. government–funded scientists who make and manipulate DNA sequences will face tougher regulations

Seems like this has little to do with deterring terrorism then, considering the assumption that a terrorist may not be a US government funded scientist.

> It’s great, because it does something instead of nothing

I am detecting a bit of frustration here.

This sounds unbelievable, but hey, we have AI. Let's just keep pretending this is the regular rate of tech advancement ...

Carry on, everything is apparently fine.