Is There a Danger With Home Geneticists?

There were home geneticists prior to discovery of DNA.  Farmers and garden hobbyists tried many different ways of cross-pollinating and even grafting to obtain different species.  Genetic Engineering becoming a cottage industry? explores the higher technology genetic tinkering that is possible on the kitchen table.  There is a fear among some scientists that amateur geneticists might not have adequate safety processes and could open a 21st century equivalent of Pandora's Box.

DIYbio is an organization founded to link amateur biologists and scientists together.  Hackers aim to make biology household practice explains that DIYbio is teaching amateur scientists how to extract DNA and even perform genetic fingerprinting. The pattern of course, is to mimic what the early computer and hobbyist clubs did for the computer industry.  The idea being, that innovation will occur among the amateur enthusiasts and bring new applications and technologies for life sciences. 

DIYbio has a gel electrophoresis project that can get you started with their community.  As described in Wiki, gel electrophoresis is a technique for separating DNA, RNS, or protein molecules by applying an electric current to the gel.  Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?  DIYbio estimates you can get started for about $40.

So is this a bad thing?  There is risk in anything.  Educating the public in modern biology and genetics has to be a good thing.  I worry more about crossover diseases from pets or exploring the rainforests than an amateur scientist inventing a new ebola.