Jo Zayner Explained

Jo Zayner
Birth Date:8 February 1981
Nationality:American
Known For:Self-experimentation with genetic material
Occupation:Bio-engineer, biohacker, and CEO of The ODIN

Jo Zayner (formerly Josiah Zayner; alternatively Josie; born February 8, 1981) is a biohacker, artist, and scientist best known for their self-experimentation and work making hands-on genetic engineering accessible to a lay audience, including CRISPR.

Education

At the age of 19, Zayner worked at Motorola as a programmer. She has a BA in plant biology from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D in biophysics (2013) from the University of Chicago. Before receiving their Ph.D, Zayner earned a MSc in cell and molecular biology from Appalachian State University.[1]

Career

Zayner spent two years as a researcher at the Mountain View, California's NASA Ames Space Synthetic Biology Research Center,[2] where they worked on Martian colony habitat design. While at the agency, Zayner also analyzed speech patterns in online chat, Twitter, and books, and found that language on Twitter and online chat is closer to how people talk than to how they write. Zayner found NASA's scientific work less innovative than she expected, and upon leaving in January 2016, she launched a crowdfunding campaign to provide CRISPR kits to let the general public experiment with editing bacterial DNA. Zayner also continued their grad school business, The ODIN, which sells kits to let the general public experiment at home. The company's main adviser is George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and director of PersonalGenomes.org. In May 2016, The ODIN had four employees and operated out of Zayner's garage.

Zayner self-identifies as a biohacker and believes in the importance of letting the general public participate in scientific experimentation, rather than leaving it segregated to labs.[3] [4] Zayner found the academic biohacking community to be exclusive and hierarchical, particularly with respect to the types of people who decide what is "safe". She hope that their projects can let even more people experiment in their homes. Other scientists have responded that biohacking is inherently exclusive for its dependence on leisure time and money, and that deviance from general safety rules could lead to even harsher regulations for all. Zayner's public CRISPR kit campaign coincided with wider public scrutiny over genetic modification.[5] Zayner maintained that these fears were based on misunderstandings of the product, as genetic experiments on yeast and bacteria cannot produce a viral epidemic.[6] [7] In April 2015, Zayner ran a hoax on Craigslist to raise awareness about the future potential of forgery in forensic genetic testing.[8] Zayner later used CRISPR to attempt to edit their own genes and is the first known person to do so.[9] [10] Zayner's CRISPR kit was displayed at the Cooper Hewitt's 2019 Nature Design Triennial.[11]

In February 2016, Zayner attempted a full body microbiome transplant on themselves, including a fecal transplant, to experiment with microbiome engineering and to see if she could treat her gastrointestinal and other health issues. The microbiome from the donor's feces successfully transplanted in Zayner's gut according to DNA sequencing done on samples. This experiment was documented by filmmakers Kate McLean and Mario Furloni and turned into the short documentary film Gut Hack.[12]

In December 2016, Zayner created a fluorescent beer by engineering yeast to contain the green fluorescent protein from jellyfish. Zayner's company, The ODIN, released kits to allow people to create their own engineered fluorescent yeast, which was met with some controversy as the FDA declared that the green fluorescent protein can be seen as a color additive.[13] Zayner views the kit as a way that an individual can use genetic engineering to create new things in their everyday life.[14]

In 2019, Zayner launched a curriculum (Bioengineering 101[15]) featuring a series of educational videos directed at those studying biotechnology for the first time. Zayner was featured in Unnatural Selection (stylized as "unnatural selection"), a TV documentary series that presents an overview of genetic engineering, which was released on Netflix in October 2019.

In 2020, Zayner, David Ishee and Dariia Dantseva, who form a group of Biohackers named The Central Dogma Collective (CDC) tested a DNA based coronavirus vaccine on themselves and live-streamed the whole process and made all protocols and data open source and freely available to the public.[16] The DNA vaccine expressed the SARS-CoV2 spike protein once inside human cells to elicit an immune response. She measured IgG and IgM spike protein antibody response and antibody neutralization of Spike protein RBD domain binding to the ACE2 receptor. All three individuals had an immune response and neutralization response to the vaccine.[17] [18]

Art

In the arts, Zayner's work has been featured in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,[19] Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum,[20] Philadelphia Museum of Art[21] and others.

While at the University of Chicago Zayner created a musical instrument, the Chromochord, which stimulates light-, oxygen-, and voltage-sensing proteins and translates their reactions into music.[22] [23] Together with composer Francisco Castillo Trigueros, Zayner received a grant from the university to compose music and create audio visual art installations using the work.[24] Zayner, gave a musical performance using the Chromochord at NY MoMA PS1.[25]

Zayner was a resident artist at Stochastic Labs in Berkeley, California[26] where she worked with the new media artist Lynn Hershman Leeson to create an art installation about genetic engineering, which included a booth designed by Zayner that attempted to reverse engineer a person's DNA from their picture. The installation was shown at ZKM and Deichtorhallen.[27]

Medical investigation

The California Department of Consumer Affairs informed Zayner in May 2019 of their investigation into a complaint against them for practicing medicine without a license.[28] [29] By September of the same year Zayner received notice that the investigation had been concluded, and “no further action is anticipated.”[30]

Personal life

Zayner identifies as transgender. She was formerly known as Josiah Zayner.[31]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Unnatural Selection: Who is Josiah Zayner? Netflix star has some crazy experiments!. 2019-10-21. Reality Titbit. en-US. 2019-10-21. January 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220105071718/https://www.realitytitbit.com/netflix-reality-shows/unnatural-selection-who-is-josiah-zayner-netflix-star-has-some-crazy-experiments. live.
  2. Web site: Bay Area biohacker tells you how to edit your DNA. Does that make him a criminal?. 2019-05-18. Times-Herald. en-US. 2019-10-21. June 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620015523/https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2019/05/18/bay-area-biohacker-tells-you-how-to-edit-your-dna-does-that-make-him-a-criminal/. live.
  3. Web site: Biologist's gene-editing kit lets DIYers play God at kitchen table. Chicago Tribune. January 29, 2016. chicagotribune.com. May 11, 2016. May 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506172436/http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-gene-editing-kit-health-0203-20160203-story.html. live.
  4. Web site: Nicks . Denver . January 12, 2016 . DIY Gene Editing Kit Sold for $120 by Josiah Zayner, Scientist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928144545/https://money.com/diy-gene-editing-kit-crispr/ . September 28, 2021 . Money.com.
  5. Kolbert . Elizabeth . CRISPR and the Splice to Survive . 3 October 2021 . . 8 January 2021 . Josiah Zayner, ... He holds a Ph.D. in biophysics and is a well-known provocateur. Among his many stunts, he has coaxed his skin to produce a fluorescent protein, ingested a friend’s poop in a D.I.Y. fecal-matter transplant, and attempted to deactivate one of his genes so that he could grow bigger muscles. . October 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211006171352/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/18/crispr-and-the-splice-to-survive . live .
  6. Web site: What Happens If Someone Uses This DIY Gene Hacking Kit to Make Mutant Bacteria?. Motherboard. May 11, 2016. May 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160515033520/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/what-happens-if-someone-uses-this-diy-gene-hacking-kit-to-make-mutant-bacteria. live.
  7. Web site: Governance: Learn from DIY biologists. Nature News & Comment. May 11, 2016. May 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160511122237/http://www.nature.com/news/governance-learn-from-diy-biologists-1.19507. live.
  8. Web site: A NASA Scientist Is Behind the 'My DNA Was Planted' Viral Craigslist Ad. Motherboard. May 11, 2016. August 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160801013643/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/a-nasa-scientist-is-behind-the-my-dna-was-planted-viral-craigslist-ad. live.
  9. Web site: Pearlman . Alex . Biohackers are using CRISPR on their DNA and we can't stop it . . 2017-11-15 . 2017-11-16 . mdy-all . November 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116205000/https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23631520-100-biohackers-are-using-crispr-on-their-dna-and-we-cant-stop-it/ . live .
  10. Web site: Lee . Stephanie M. . This Biohacker Is Trying To Edit His Own DNA And Wants You To Join Him . BuzzFeed . 2017-10-14 . 2017-11-16 . mdy-all . November 19, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171119101410/https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemlee/this-biohacker-wants-to-edit-his-own-dna . live .
  11. Web site: Object Collection. Cooper Hewitt. June 18, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201244/https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318798875/. live.
  12. Web site: New York Times Op Docs: Gut Hack. New York Times. April 14, 2017. April 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170414085500/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/opinion/gut-hack.html. live.
  13. Web site: DNA Biohackers Are Giving The FDA A Headache With Glow-In-The-Dark Booze. Buzzfeed. April 14, 2017. April 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170415013144/https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemlee/biohacking-booze. live.
  14. Web site: This Biohacker Wants to Spur a Genetic Engineering Revolution With Glowing Beer. Gizmodo. September 9, 2017. August 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825061808/http://gizmodo.com/this-biohacker-wants-to-spur-a-genetic-engineering-revo-1789759826. live.
  15. Web site: The Odin Bioengineering 101. The Odin. February 27, 2020. February 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200227155430/https://www.the-odin.com/bioe101/. live.
  16. Web site: Do-it-yourself from scientific paper to covid-19 DNA vaccine playlist. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128070329/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNAhY1w2w78rSeNQo_e0dQ2w8mmGEg7Mr. November 28, 2020. Josiah Zayner.
  17. Web site: Home-Made Covid Vaccine Appeared to Work, but Questions Remained. live. https://archive.today/20201010131634/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-10/home-made-covid-vaccine-appeared-to-work-but-questions-remained. 10 October 2020. Bloomberg.
  18. News: A Biohacker Gets a Wake-Up Call . 3 October 2021 . Bloomberg.com . 12 October 2020 . en . October 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003030838/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2020-10-12/a-biohacker-gets-a-wake-up-call . live .
  19. Web site: California Dream Design Landscape. Sura Wood. February 7, 2018. Bay Area Reporter. December 27, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201223/https://www.ebar.com/arts_%26_culture/art//255605. live.
  20. Web site: Objects Involving Josiah Zayner. Cooper Hewitt. December 27, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201222/https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/2318795947/objects/. live.
  21. Web site: Designs for Different Futures: BODIES. Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art.
  22. Web site: The world's smallest violin: scientist uses proteins to create a new musical instrument. Katie Drummond. September 5, 2013. Vox Media. The Verge. September 2, 2017. December 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040106/https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/5/4694324/biophysicist-uses-proteins-to-create-chromochord. live.
  23. Web site: Biotech's First Musical Instrument Plays Proteins Like Piano Keys [Slide Show]]. Nona Griffin,Daniel Grushkin. Scientific American. May 11, 2016. April 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160417144503/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/biotechs-first-musical-instrument-plays-proteins-like-piano-keys-slideshow/. live.
  24. Web site: Scholars probe interface between arts and science. Drew Messinger-Michaels. November 18, 2013. Bay Area Reporter. December 27, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201222/https://www.uchicago.edu/features/scholars_probe_interface_between_arts_and_science/. live.
  25. Web site: Lynn Hershman Leeson Presents An Afternoon on the Future of Humanity. MoMA.org. December 27, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201217/https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/3405. live.
  26. Web site: Josiah Zayner Resident Artist. Stochastic Labs. Stochastic Labs. December 27, 2019. December 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191227201224/http://stochasticlabs.org/portfolio/josiah-zayner/. live.
  27. Web site: On and Off The Screen. B. Ruby Rich. Spring 2015. Film Quarterly. May 22, 2016. May 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160509082201/http://www.filmquarterly.org/2015/03/on-screen-off-screen/. live.
  28. Web site: Celebrity biohacker Josiah Zayner is under investigation for practicing medicine without a license. Antonio Regalado. May 15, 2019. MIT Tech Review. June 18, 2019. June 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190606163243/https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613540/celebrity-biohacker-josiah-zayner-is-under-investigation-for-practicing-medicine-without-a/. live.
  29. Web site: Genetic self-experimenting "biohacker" under investigation by health officials. Beth Mole. May 16, 2019. Ars Technica. June 18, 2019. May 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190521183212/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/biohacker-who-tried-to-alter-his-dna-probed-for-illegally-practicing-medicine/. live.
  30. Web site: Biohacker Investigation Is Dropped by California Medical Board. Brown. Kristen V. 15 October 2019. www.bloomberg.com. 2019-10-21. May 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200527212446/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-15/biohacker-investigation-is-dropped-by-california-medical-board. live.
  31. Web site: About Me. Jo Zayner's blog: Science, Art, Beauty. en-US. 2023-10-19. June 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230606140230/http://www.josiahzayner.com/p/about.html. live.

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