Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I love this article.

Does anyone have suggestions on starting down this path as someone that understands programming but has forgotten all the high school biology I learned?

I love the way I can now learn new programming frameworks. Read small bit by bit projects that build up slowly and teach the important components. Svelte for example. Solving problems and practicing the techniques are the best way for me to memorize things and then apply them to my own projects.

Is there anything similar that could start me down this path?

I'm less interested in videos like the Ninja Nerd. They look great, but it isn't a way of learning that sticks with me.



What are you interested in? Synthetic biology? Bioinformatics? Something else?

Biology is really broad - As an analogy, not sure if you’re interested in how to build a gaming computer or want to learn how make web apps.


I don't know. Which of those is the most fun? I suppose I don't care as much about building something or a career as much as I want to learn something new. Can you suggest a focus for me?


A book I loved when I was first learning is called “Unraveling DNA” from 1988. I remember it reading like a detective novel, as back then the folks writing were mentored by the OG molecular biology folks. It can be yours for only $4 https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-DNA-Maxim-D-Frank-Kamenets...

“A genetic switch” is another fantastic unraveling of a single virus. If you like diving into like a framework and learning piece by piece how it all works slowly, that is a GREAT book. For a while this was my favorite book.

https://www.amazon.com/Biology-Viruses-Bruce-Phd-Voyles/dp/0... This book started my career. The first chapter, specifically, started my career. It got me hooked, not sure why. You can learn about other WILD things viruses do there too!

On the experimentation side, try a transformation kit https://www.the-odin.com/colorbacteria/ it’s $30, and at least you’d be able to tell friends and family you’ve genetically modified life before. That is a nice intro into synthetic biology. This is how I got started.

On the bioinformatics side, miniPCR has some nice kits to go barcode environmental strains. I personally hate doing PCR and don’t care about barcoding, so I’m biased here. I’m much more of a synthetic biologist, so bioinformatics study is only relevant to me in context of the things above.

I’d probably buy some books + the transformation kit and then see what interests you from there. There are a couple things that are 1 step away from transformation kit plus some learning, which is why I recommend that path.


Idk biochemistry? Cell, molecular, structural bio? Genetic engineering?

These are all so abstract to me but I wanna head down a path to better understand autoimmune diseases, research being done, viable options...

Idk but how can I leverage modern day understanding and tech to have an end goal of creating a biologic that makes it so people don’t have to live with their body fighting themselves everyday or give a mother at risk of miscarriages another chance?

It’s all such a big messy abstract sound storm in my mind and I wish I could focus it more to ask the right question but unfortunately I can not




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: