Definition of biohacking
Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics focuses on how the food you eat interacts with your genes.
This popular, although controversial, type of biohacking is founded on the idea that your body’s total genetic expression can be mapped out and optimized by testing how different nutrients affect your healthTrusted Source over time.
DIY biology
DIY biology (or DIY bio) is a type of biohacking spearheaded by people with education and experience in scientific fields.
These biohackers share tips and techniques to help non-experts conduct structured experiments on themselves outside of a controlled experimental environment, like labs or medical offices.
Grinder
Grinder is a biohacking subculture that sees every part of the human body as hack-able.
In general, grinders seek to become “cyborgs” by optimizing their bodies with a combination of gadgets, chemical injections, implants, and anything else they can put into their body to make it work the way they want it to.
What’s the difference between biohacking and biotechnology?
Biotechnology is a broad term referring to the study of biological processes to inform technological advancement. Biotechnology can range from using bacterial strains for brewing beer to editing genes using CRISPR.
Advances or learnings in biotechnology often affect experiments in biohacking, and vice versa. For example, many biohackers use breakthroughs in biotechnology for ideas and data. Biotechnologists also look to experiments done by biohackers to inform directions in biotechnology research.
You don’t need biotechnology to biohack. Grinders tend to be the most active users of biotechnology for biohacking purposes. But habit or diet changes don’t require biotechnology.