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Comment by fabian2k | Hacker News Reader

Any genetic modifications would require an S1 laboratory in Germany, that is not something any private person could do. You would have to go to a university or company with an approved S1 laboratory to do such experiments.

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Yes but keep in mind that in Germany an s1 time share lab ( including equipment ) of 25m2 can be rented from 10€ per square meter.

That is less than you pay rent.

They really want people to do bio stuff.

https://www.bio-security.de/s1-s2-labore-bueros-mieten/

your comment confuses me, I would appreciate it if you could please clarify - you rent a 25m2 lab for 10 euro/m2, so 25eur for the whole lab? For how long is this price? Per hour, day, week, month?

I read this as 250eur/month for a 25 m2 space.

This, 250 bugs per month for access to the lab. Some machines will have to be shared. It is intended that you get some even cheaper office space too.

Heating, electricity and some services are on top, but overall that is ridiculously cheap.

250 per month, I did not notice that the link is in German. Sorry for any confusion.

For comparison, that is about the price of a single room student flat.

I am curious how such business model arose?

My assumption based on their statement was that something being sold is restricted. AFAIK you can do genetic modifications at home in the US

There are restrictions on the sale of dangerous chemicals, and in general the vendors that sell chemicals simply don't sell to private persons at all. I'm not sure where the exact legal boundaries are, and whether the typical stuff you need for genetic experiments falls under some restriction. In general the chemicals you need for that aren't that dangerous, so they might not be restricted by law, but you still will have trouble getting a reputable vendor to sell to you as a private person.

I'm very aware that there are restricted and watched/reported chemicals and equipment but the GP claimed that ordering this stuff will get you a visit from law enforcement which implies that they are aware of which things the site is selling that are restricted or watched.

I asked specifically what are they selling that is restricted or watched

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