Root of the Week: BIO (Wednesday)

Biohack (Verb)  Biohacking (Noun)

The word “hack” is used colloquially to describe gaining unauthorized access to a computer. In the last few decades, the definition has expanded to refer to any shortcut or surreptitious, roundabout, or tricky way of manipulating a system.  Biohacking refers to all kinds of methods people use to try to manipulate their own biology in an attempt to improve upon nature. These tend to be DIY experiments, often premised on specious (or no) scientific justification, like eating a diet consisting entirely of meat or intentionally infecting oneself with a parasite.  In some sense, we all engage in biohacking when we make dietary changes in the interest of health or take a nutritional supplement. But there are plenty of wacky, unscientific, and sometimes dangerous forms of biohacking touted online, so beware!