Robert writes:

The real benefits (and hazards) to humanity for advanced biotechnologies (or nanotechnologies) are presented by the self-assembly and self-replicating properties.

I agree, though I'd like to see more attention on the indirect products of precise self-rep, such as machine intelligence and a massive influx of new scientific discoveries. Talking about self-rep seems to focus attention on relatively tame issues, such as various forms of "goo" destroying everything. There are many issues to consider which are both more powerful and more plausible.

–willdye

The problem with Silicon Valley may be its narrow focus. You have to evaluate nanotechnology in a very general sense of its downstream impacts, e.g. material physical properties (e.g. diamondoid strength), novel properties (e.g. quantum effects) vs. properties based on self-assembly or self-replication. The biotechnology industry is already based on extensive use of the properties of self-assembly and self-replication. One could cite other areas such as L.A.-San Diego, Boston, or Seattle where there may be greater awareness of the fact that biotechnology is nanotechnology in a very robust form if one can develop strategies to leverage it effectively. Silicon Valley by its very "silicon" nature may stumble here because of its own limited vision that they cannot see the carbon for the silicon.

The real benefits (and hazards) to humanity for advanced biotechnologies (or nanotechnologies) are presented by the self-assembly and self-replicating properties. It is unfortunate that greater attention is not given to these areas compared with strength of "buckytubes" or light emission properties of "quantum dots". It seems likely that while we are dazzled by the display of lights our wallet may disappear.