Body Hackers: Tito Jankowski at TEDxBrussels

Tito Jankowski is a synthetic biologist who works from home, sequencing and manipulating mailorder DNA using over-the-counter equipment in his garage. He founded the San Francisco chapter of DIYBio, a Boston originating national movement, in 2008. The group's experiments include extracting DNA from saliva and designing organisms that glow in the presence of heavy metals. This mash up of biological experimentation, laboratory work, hacker principles, and punk DIY methods is gaining rapid traction and Jankowski is one of the early West Coast founders. He organises Bio Curious meetings and speaks regularly at meetings and conferences about DIY biology and the garage DNA revolution. He invented a A DIY copier machine for DNA: A fast, computer controlled PCR machine that uses normal PCR tubes and can be built with off the shelf parts and free plans.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)