Week# #6 - BioTech + Art

Week #6 – BioTech + Art
I have always been curious about biotechnology and its latest developments and scientific breakthroughs.  It never occurred to me that art had a place in biotech but after studying this week’s materials, I am convinced that not only is there a place for it, but there is also a need for it.  Initially, I was impressed after seeing photos of Alba, Eduarco Kac’s transgenic glowing bright green rabbit.  I thought it was cool that an albino rabbit was genetically modified with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a jellyfish and that it glowed when illuminated under a specific light.  However, after thinking further, I grew uncomfortable and wondered what other living organisms were undergoing transgenics and being intentionally mutated?  While genetic manipulation can make for some beautiful art, are we going too far?  
Macintosh HD:Users:vicky:Desktop:Unknown.jpeg  
Alba, the transgenic fluorescent rabbit, was created in 2000
Edward Steichen, a horticulturist in the 1930s, genetically modified delphinium plants.  At that time, delphiniums were about 3-4’ tall.  Steichen’s plants were 7’ tall.   About 50 years later, George Gessert merged art and genetics when he bred irises.  He said, “One must always be ready for the unexpected, for new life that is just as good or better than what one sought.”  I appreciate the benefits of genetically modifying plants and flowers as art because the end-product is beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.   I am more concerned about scientists altering and creating new forms of live involving genomes from humans.  
Edward Steichen with his 7-foot tall delphinium

A hybrid iris created by George Gessert
In Barry Schuler’s TED lecture, he defines genomes as “all of the DNA that is in a living organism”.  I learned that we are now able to read genomes which means great things for us.  We can understand diseases better plus other physical ailments.  Some people people will use a smartcard at the pharmacy to purchase medicine that will be specific to their own genome!  Now that we are able to read genomes, we can also create genomes and alter existing ones.  This is both exhilarating and scary.  If we can figure out how to fix ourselves, then we should do it but there must be limits placed on what we need to fix in the world around us.  Afterall, I think life is pretty darn good just the way it is.  
A human genome.  
Sources  
Hartmann, Celia. "MoMA | Edward Steichen Archive: Delphiniums Blue (and White
and Pink, Too)." InsideOut. The Museum of Modern Art, 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 May 2017. 
Jiang, Kevin. "HMS." Puzzling Out Variability of the Human Genome. Harvard Medical
School, 10 July 2012. Web. 11 May 2017. 
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny." KAC. Kac Web, Mar. 2000. Web. 11 May 2017.
Kelty, Chris.  “Meanings of Participation:  Outlaw Biology?”.  Web. 5 Nov 2012
King, Katie. "Examine: The Hybridization of Irises by George Gessert." Digital Studio
Project Development. Word Press, 05 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 May 2017. 
Levy, Ellen K. "Ellen_Levy_BioArt.pdf - 1 Defining Life Artists
Challenge..." Ellen_Levy_BioArt.pdf - 1 Defining Life Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications Ellen K Levy. DESMA 9, 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 May 2017. 
Schuler, Barry. "Genomics 101." Barry Schuler: Genomics 101 | TED Talk | TED.com.
N.p., June 2008. Web. 11 May 2017. 
"Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac." GNN - Genome News Network. Genome News
Network, 29 Mar. 2002. Web. 11 May 2017.
Vesna, Victoria.  Narr. “BioTech + Art Lectures I-V.”  N.p., . web. 5 Nov 2012.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 16, 2017 at 10:35 PM

    I like how you explained your feelings before this week's material and how it drastically changed your opinion of the necessity of biotechnology. I had very similar feelings about animal testing. Did you feel that you found purely negatives when learning about the testing on animals? Do you find biotechnology to be unnecessary now or do you think there are ways in which we still need it?

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