Week 6: Biotechnology & Art

This week professor Vesna talks about interaction between biotechnology and art. Back in high school, students like me have learned in biology course the beautiful and mysterious double helix structure of DNA developed by professor James Watson. To some extent, the double helix structure of DNA reveals both the biological and aesthetic meaning of human life. This relationship has always been intriguing to general public yet sometimes cause intense and heated discussion.

One thing that draws my interest in professor Vesna's lecture is Joe Davis's idea of creating information gene and send these message to extraterrestrials. For the gene, Joe Davis chose Microvenus, an "artistic work constructed from synthetic molecules of DNA". Microvenus contains "a coded visual icon representing the external female genitalia". Such gene carries human's information has the task of exploration the ultimate form of art, that is life existing in universe.

        

Another famous example is Dolly, which was a female domestic sheep. Dolly is the first mammal coned from an adult somatic cell, using the process of nuclear transfer. The birth of Dolly is quite inspirational, showing human's ability on transforming the nature. People are capable of cloning mammal's using the cutting-edge biotechnology, moreover, they can even transform on the existing live matters in nature. 

However, biotechnology are also causing debates around the world. The general public are taking about the ethics experimenting on living animals. Also, people are talking about the possible detriment on people's health. Dolly's relatively early death--prompted by a progressive ling infection, which followed bouts with arthritis and obesity--"is sure to be a sobering reminder for cloning researchers of how complex and poor understood the process remains." Controversy  and shock also arise when artists are experimenting on themselves to explore the possibility of biotechnology. For instance, Orlan tried to create a coat made from an assemblage of skin pieces from different colors. 

Biotechnology has had significant improvements through the years, while due to its special research area, causing concern at the same time. It is still under exploration to reach a balance on both moral and technological side.

Citation:

 "DNA Double Helix." DNA Double Helix. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 Mestel, Rosie. "Dolly's Death Resurrects Debate on Cloning Ethics." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 2003. Web. 08 May 2016.

"Microvenus: Joe Davis : Genetics and Culture." Microvenus: Joe Davis : Genetics and Culture. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 Vesna, Vicictoria. "Biotechnology and Art." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 "Dolly (sheep)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 08 May 2016. 

 UCtelevision. "Animal Biotechnology." YouTube. YouTube, 2008. Web. 08 May 2016.