Week 6: Biotech + Art

Biotechnology and decoding human’s genome has opened door to many opportunities for the scientists and artists to innovate non-ordinary living organisms. Just to give you a glimpse of what has been done by the artists, we may consider the works of Eduardo Cats and Joe Davis. Eduardo Kac plugged a fluorescent protein into a rabbit with the help of a scientist and made her glow. Joe Davis, on the other hand, planted a map of milky-way in the ear of a transgenic mouse and engineered a sign of human intelligence into the genome of e-coli bacteria. But apart from aesthetic and innovative aspects of their work, their work has also served as a critique to the things that scientific world brings us.  

By growing bacterial patterns, scientist Mehmet Berkmen and artist Maria Penil have created this piece of artwork, called "Neurons.” 

<http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/12-microbial-masterpieces-grown-petri-dishes>

<http://io9.gizmodo.com/7-bio-artists-who-are-transforming-the-fabric-of-life-i-558156053>

Bio-engineering and bio-art have always been the matters of controversy.  A lot of people wonder what will happen if someone decides to control genetic manipulation and begins to hold physical or political power. Many others argue that living creatures should not be manipulated, misused, or harmed. However there’s a narrow line between what is ethical and what is not, and it is hard to realize when one crosses it. Some consider engineering tissues to be morally acceptable when it is done for the sake of improving the health of human beings. But the same action is viewed as wrong if it’s done for pure scientific or artistic purposes.

<http://www.keyword-suggestions.com/
Z3JlZW4gZmx1b3Jlc2NlbnQgIHByb3RlaW4gc2NpZW50aXN0cw/>

I personally think that it is significantly important to talk about the ethical issues that are stemming from these topics. And there’s no one better than the artists and the scientists themselves who can ignite such discussions. If scientists, artists, and the public are engaged in an ethical debate, it will be easier to distinguish between wrong and right in the long run.  Because, exploring the potentials of the living medium is not wrong by itself, and we just have to build up the boundaries gradually.

<https://rakabe.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/ethics-of-biotechnology/>

Resources

1. Dvorsky, George. "7 Bio-Artists Who Are Transforming the Fabric of Life Itself." Io9. N.p., 24 June 2013. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://io9.gizmodo.com/7-bio-artists-who-are-transforming-the-fabric-of-life-i-558156053>.

2. "Green Fluorescent Protein Scientists." N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2017. <http://www.keyword-suggestions.com/Z3JlZW4gZmx1b3Jlc2NlbnQgIHByb3RlaW4gc2NpZW50aXN0cw/>.

3. Haridy, Rich. "Art in the Age of Ones and Zeros: BioArt." New Atlas. N.p., 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://newatlas.com/art-ones-and-zeros-bioart/48391/>.

4. Leary, Catie. "12 Microbial Masterpieces Grown in Petri Dishes." Mother Nature Network. N.p., 28 Oct. 2015. Web. 12 May 2017. <http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/12-microbial-masterpieces-grown-petri-dishes>.

5. Pasko, Jessica M. "Bio-artists Bridge Gap between Arts, Sciences." NBCNews. N.p., 04 Mar. 2007. Web. 10 May 2017. <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17387568/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/bio-artists-bridge-gap-between-arts-sciences/#.WRZRG4jytEY>.

6. Stracey, Frances. "Bio-art: the ethics behind the aesthetics." Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 10.7 (2009): 496-500.

7.  Walden, Stephanie. "BioArt: Is It Art? Is It Science? Is It the Future?" Mashable. N.p., 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 May 2017. <http://mashable.com/2013/10/29/cutpastegrow-bioart/#ZrL0nHLP5Oqm>.

8. Vesna, Victoria. “BioTech and Art.” DESMA 9. Lecture.

3