1. DocumentTitle: Carpe Diem:3-D PrintingandLife Sciences
Keyword/Topic: 3-D printing
The 3-D printerisan inventionthathasonlybeguntorevolutionize the waypeopledothings.Thisnew
piece of technologyhasthe potential tohave agreater impacton societythaneventhe personal
computer.Many industrieshave alreadybegunemployingthe 3-Dprinterto helpaccomplishimportant
tasks.
One of the industriesthathave embracedthe 3-Dprintingtechnologyisthe healthcare field.The 3-D
printerisa great tool for people whoneedtoreplicatelife-savingmedical devices.Manylabsare using
the newtechnologytocut theircostsand waitingtimes.
One example of the 3-Dprinterusesisthe printingof new heartsand bodyparts forpeople wholost
theirstodisease andknifes.Doctorscanalsouse the 3-D printertovisualize surgeries.
Anotherexampleof usage isfoundatDeRisi Lab at the Universityof CaliforniaSanFrancisco.This
laboratoryisfocusedonhelpingpeople whoare sufferingfrom parasitesandrare viruses.Theydeal
withdeadlysnakes,spidersandpathogensof all kinds.The DeRisiLabhasresearcheddeadlyconditions.
It has evenreleaseditsownsoftware tohelppeople getwell soon.
Eventhoughmost of the objectsDeRisi focusesitsattentionuponare microscopicinnature,theycan
still use the newprintingtechnologytomeettheirunique needsandhelppeople withtheirlife sciences
issues.Thismaysoundsurprisingtosome people,butitmakesa greatdeal of sense inactuality.The
scientistsatthe DeRisi Labcontinuouslyneedone specializedmedical deviceoranotherfortheir
importantwork.Infact, it'shard to finda microscope inthe laboratorythat doesn'tuse something
printedfromtheir3-D printer.
The DeRisi Lab ishappywithitsnewcapabilitiestoprint3-Dparts. Theyprinteverythingfromobjective
casesto gel combs.Pipetracks are particularlypopularpartsto print.The numberof small parts the lab
printsiscountless.The printerisalwaysinuse.Manyof these piecesof equipmentcouldeasilybe
orderedfromthe labssupplier.However,itismucheasierforthe scientiststobuildthemusingthe 3-D
printer.Itis alsoconsiderablycheaper.
The cost difference isfairlysubstantial.Forexample,apart that maycost $50 can be printedforjust$1.
The addedconvenience justmakesusingthe 3-Dprintingtechnologyano-brainer.The scientistsatthe
DeRisi Labare excitedaboutthe future now thattheyhave these new capabilities.The technology
basicallygivesthemmore time andmore moneytofocusonwhat isreallyimportant.There isnotelling
whatdeadlyvirusesorparasitesthe labwill be able todefeatwiththe strengthaddedbythe new
invention.
Anotherbenefitof 3-Dprintingisthat the itemscanbe sharedwithother.Anyone canaccessthe 3-D
printablesof the DeRisi Labonline.Thismeansthathobbyistscanactivelyresearchandachieve their
ownbreakthroughswithoutbeingemployedbysucha prestigiouslaboratory.

2. Some dismissed3-Dprintingtechnologywhenitwasfirstintroduced.Theythoughtthe technologywas
justa simple gimmick.However,these peopleare quicklychangingtheirminds.Thistechnologyhasthe
potential tobe a boonfor society.The applicationsinlife sciencesalone are fairlyamazing.Fortunately,
thisisjust the tipof the iceberg.Itwill take yearsforpeople tofullyexploitthe opportunitiesofferedby
thisnewtechnological advancement.
It will be interestingtowatchhowdifferenthealthcare andlife science professionalsadaptthe 3-D
printingtechnologytomeettheirownneedsinthe future.