[bionerd]

> The early pioneers in genetics were all consummate hackers in the truest sense. For much of the work they were doing, the had very little information about the underlying processes to go on.

Exactly! They only had the most basic tools (even primitive by today's standards!) at their disposal and were still able to discover the most profound and fascinating things about life at the molecular level. All that using only a few simple techniques and a pure deductive logic.

It never ceases to amaze me how much hacker spirit these people had.

[dekhn]

When I first learned about molecular biology (late 80s, while in high school), I immediately shifted my interest from just computers to computers and biology. I specifically told people at the time: "studying molecular biology is like being put in front of the world's largest and most complicated computer and being told 'we have no manual, and do not know how it even works, could you figure out by playing with it?'

It took many years for me to reconcile my hacker approach to life with the reality of scientific funding and the rate of progress in human diseases.

[bionerd]

My story is very similar. After high school I went to study computer science in college. Then, just before I got my bachelor's degree, I decided to apply to a programme in molecular biology instead of further pursuing master's degree in computer science.

Switching gears was the best decision of my life. I've never had so much fun as I had while attending the introductory lectures in cell or molecular biology. So many mind-blowing things I never would've imagine...

Now I'm hoping to get into a PhD programme in genetics. Can't wait to learn about other amazing stuff waiting out there. :)

[dnautics]

I'm on the other side. I have a PhD in chemistry, can do molecular biology, biochemistry - the wet parts, and I am on my last breath with science. Since I can write computer software, (not too terribly disciplined, industrial-wise, at this point, but I can learn), if my attempt to launch a nonprofit research institute fails, I'm going to quit and go into the digital world.

Perhaps the grass is always greener, but I have strong words about what is wrong with science, and if you want to know, feel free to contact me.

[dnautics]

here is a good start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxZp5Peg8mg

[bionerd]

I'll watch this, thanks.

Well, I have to admit that, after spending the last three years as a basically full-time intern in our lab, I have a bit of an idea how science is quite broken. I've witnessed some of its problems first hand.

But I still want to do this, nevertheless. The area that I'd like to focus on during my PhD (genomics/computational biology) is something I really believe I'll have fun doing. On the other hand, it should still allow me to use much of the stuff I'll learn there outside science (if it ever comes to this).

I'll definitely drop you a line later, I'd like to hear your thoughts about this.