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BioMed + Art


BioMedical Technology (BioMedTech)

BioMed and Technology

Modifying nature (Genetically Modified Organisms - GMO) has been a controversial topic even amongst my friends and family members. The debate seems to center around the question: should humans be allowed to modify nature and organisms? There are two main concerns regarding such debate: The first is regarding the safety of implementing GMOs into our everyday lives. Because of the lack of sufficient research on the effects of GMOs, many European countries have totally banned the import of GMO crops (Ganzel). The second concern centers around the ethical dilemma for carrying out such studies, which, according to Levy, can be translated as a debate on if nature can be deemed as property of and for humans to modify at will. 
Stelarch's Third Ear (Quinn)

How it's Linked to Art

The beginnings of merging art and Bio-Technology can be attributed to Joe Davis. His first experiments with the Audio Microscope has opened doors for further development of this newly merged field (Vesna). One notable scientist who was influenced by Davis’s contributions  was Edwardo Katz, a transgenic artist / scientist who inputted glowing jellyfish genes (called the Green Fluorescent Protein) into an Albino Rabbit, genetically modifying the rabbit to glow a green light (Vesna). This study was tremendously influential in the biomedical field as it showed that genetic modifications can be used to improve treatments that can cure real, human illnesses (Holpuch). 
Katz's Glowing Bunnies (Kooser)
Because these contemporary innovations are being used for scientific works, I believe that it imperative that such techniques be allowed in art as well. This draws me back to the argument in my previous blog posts about there being no “better” field when it comes to pursuit and education. That is, biology is not “more important” than art as art is no better than math is. Thus, given that genetic modifications are allowed in biomedical pursuits, the same procedures should be allowed for artistic pursuits. Just as there is no known limit to scientific knowledge and enhancements as new technologies are introduced, there also is no limit to artistic creativity one can express using the same mediums. Incorporating Kelty's notion of the “outlaw” in biology that leads to medical innovations and solutions, the “outlaws” of art, such as innovative artistic thinkers Joe Davis and Kathy High, have potential to explore artistic mediums that have not yet been introduced into society. 

Stelarc's Third Ear (OtagoDailyTimes)


Works Cited

Bembridge, Courtney. “Stelarc.” DailyMail, ABCNews, 11 Aug. 2015, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3194396/He-s-
got-sleeve-Australia-s-nutty-professor-Stelarc-shows-surgically-grown-ear-bizarre-TV-interview.html.

 Connor, Steve. “First Human Embryos Edited in U.S., Using CRISPR.” MIT Technology Review, MIT Technology Review, 29 Dec. 2017, www.technologyreview.com/s/608350/first-human-embryos-edited-in-us/.

 Genzel, Bill. “The GMO Age Begins.” The New Deal Financial Reform Laws, 2009, livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe70s/crops_10.html.

 Holpuch, Amanda. “Scientists Breed Glow-in-the-Dark Rabbits.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Aug. 2013, www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/13/glow-in-dark-rabbits-scientists.

 Kelty, Christopher  M. “Outlaw, Hackers, Victorian Amateurs: Diagnosing Public Participation in the Life Sciences Today.” Journal of Science Communication, Mar. 2010, kelty.org/or/papers/essays/Kelty_Jcom_Outlawas.pdf.

 Levy, Ellen K. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” UCLA.

 Vesna, Victoria. “Unit 6.” BioTech+Art. Desma 9, 7 May 2018, Los Angeles, cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=16300814.

Photos and Videos Cited

Kooser, Amanda. “Glowing Bunnies .” CBSNews, CNET, 14 Aug. 2013, www.cbsnews.com/news/living-breathing-glowing-rabbits-successfully-born/.

 OtagoDailyTimes, director. Stelarc's Third Ear. Youtube, 13 July 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=s80ZjumSA08.

 Quinn, Liam. “'I've Got Something up My Sleeve': Nutty Professor with Australia's Creepiest Laugh Shows off the Ear He Grew on His ARM Using Stem Cells in Bizarre TV Interview.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 11 Aug. 2015, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3194396/He-s-got-sleeve-Australia-s-nutty-professor-Stelarc-shows-surgically-grown-ear-bizarre-TV-interview.html.

 “Tel Aviv University Innovation Program for Medical Device Technologies.” Bio Med Tech, Tel Aviv University, en-biomedtech.tau.ac.il/.


Bibliography

Bembridge, Courtney. “Stelarc.” DailyMail, ABCNews, 11 Aug. 2015, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3194396/He-s-got-sleeve-Australia-s-nutty-professor-Stelarc-shows-surgically-grown-ear-bizarre-TV-interview.html.

Connor, Steve. “First Human Embryos Edited in U.S., Using CRISPR.” MIT Technology Review, MIT Technology Review, 29 Dec. 2017, www.technologyreview.com/s/608350/first-human-embryos-edited-in-us/.

Elliot, Danielle. “Living, Breathing, Glowing Rabbits Successfully Born.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 14 Aug. 2013, www.cbsnews.com/news/living-breathing-glowing-rabbits-successfully-born/.

Genzel, Bill. “The GMO Age Begins.” The New Deal Financial Reform Laws, 2009, livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe70s/crops_10.html.

Holpuch, Amanda. “Scientists Breed Glow-in-the-Dark Rabbits.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Aug. 2013, www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/13/glow-in-dark-rabbits-scientists.

 Kelty, Christopher  M. “Outlaw, Hackers, Victorian Amateurs: Diagnosing Public Participation in the Life Sciences Today.” Journal of Science Communication, Mar. 2010, kelty.org/or/papers/essays/Kelty_Jcom_Outlawas.pdf.

 Kooser, Amanda. “Glowing Bunnies .” CBSNews, CNET, 14 Aug. 2013, www.cbsnews.com/news/living-breathing-glowing-rabbits-successfully-born/.

 Levy, Ellen K. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” UCLA.

 McCafferty, Georgia. “The Man with an Ear on His Arm.” CNN, Cable News Network, 13 Aug. 2015, www.cnn.com/style/article/stelarc-ear-arm-art/index.html.

 OtagoDailyTimes, director. Stelarc's Third Ear. Youtube, 13 July 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=s80ZjumSA08.

 Quinn, Liam. “'I've Got Something up My Sleeve': Nutty Professor with Australia's Creepiest Laugh Shows off the Ear He Grew on His ARM Using Stem Cells in Bizarre TV Interview.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 11 Aug. 2015, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3194396/He-s-got-sleeve-Australia-s-nutty-professor-Stelarc-shows-surgically-grown-ear-bizarre-TV-interview.html.

 “Tel Aviv University Innovation Program for Medical Device Technologies.” Bio Med Tech, Tel Aviv University, en-biomedtech.tau.ac.il/.


 Vesna, Victoria. “Unit 6.” BioTech+Art. Desma 9, 7 May 2018, Los Angeles, cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=16300814.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 16, 2018 at 10:43 PM

    You did a great job touching on the controversies of biotechnology and art. While GMOs could be beneficial for some aspects of our society, they also hold great implications and the question of where the line should be drawn does not have an easy answer. I appreciate your comment about how there is no limit to the ability of artists to be creative with biotechnology - as we discover more and more about biology, I suspect we will see more and more shocking and/or intriguing works of art!

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