Lowering the cost of basic biological research (technologyreview.com)

One idea I'd would be curious about is how 3D print tech could add to basic biological research. A lot of machines look like simple but customized system of beakers and such. Being able to produce any shape "out of the box" seems pretty useful here.

Edit: Looking up Tekla Labs, it seems they are all about this idea already. It's just the parent puff piece that fails to mention it.

most of these equipment can now be purchased secondhand or surplus for less than it would cost hiring someone to build them.

Reproducibility seems like it could be a problem.

This is a real kick in the butt, I'm working on a similar project for physics for the last summer. There's a lot that I can translate from my experience of physicist PhD and co-founder of Taipei Hackerspace.

http://signup.moonpunch.org/

Keep the science rolling!

Software can probably solve many issues here, like calibrating the devices and processing informations to give scientists meaningful metrics. It may also help fixing or at least detect erroneous data. Great hardware needs to be designed in pair with the software.

Also, just software can help. Now there are iOS apps to count cells by just taking pictures, while labs paid (and still pay) fortunes to get machines/software for that.