Jason Bobe has posted a write -up of a recent meeting of would-be do-it-yourself biological engineers in Cambridge, MA. See DIYbio.org.
Here's the first paragraph:
In the packed back-room of Asgard's Irish Pub in Cambridge, a diversecrowd of 25+ enthusiasts gathered to discuss the next big thing in biology: amateurs. Mackenzie (Mac) Cowell led-off the night with an overview of recent history in biological engineering, and asked the question: Can molecular biology or biotechnology be a hobby? Will advancements in synthetic biology be the tipping point that enables DIYers and garagistas to make meaningful contributions to the biological sciences, outside of traditional institutions? Can DIYbio.org be the Homebrew Computer Club of biology?