Genetic engineering at home

What is the use of a homemade lab equipment and the wealth of scientific knowledge available online? Some people are trying to create new life forms through genetic engineering .

For example a 31-year-old programmer Meredith L. Patterson is trying to develop genetically altered yogurt bacteria that will glow green to signal the presence of melamine, the chemical that turned Chinese-made baby formula and pet food deadly. She is doing all these experiments in her San Francisco dining room lab.

"People can really work on projects for the good of humanity while learning about something they want to learn about in the process," she said.

She learned about genetic engineering by reading scientific papers and getting tips from online forums.

Some fear that terrorists might attempt this kind of genetic engineering. But Patterson said: "A terrorist doesn't need to go to the DIYbio community. They can just enroll in their local community college."