Week 6: BioTech and Art

From this week’s lectures, I learned for the first time that there is such thing as bioart, which refers to a contemporary form of art that uses scientific methods and biotechnology to explore living systems as artistic subjects (Yetisen et al., 2015). While it is interesting and thought-provoking to learn, I find bioart to be a little bit unsettling, specifically regarding the extent that some artists would go for the sake of aesthetic and arts. 

Live Bicyclus anynana butterfly with modified wing pattern.
In her project, Marta de Menezes modified the wing patterns of live butterflies as her medium of artistic expression (Vesna, 2012). She wanted to make a statement that despite the distinct physical differences, we all are more alike than we realized (Reinert, 2004). However, the experiment left permanent holes in the butterflies’ wings, thus reducing the butterflies’ lifespan (Vesna, 2012). 

I just do not think that biomanipulation is acceptable for artistic purposes. A life is still a life, regardless of however small or unimportant it may seem. I believe this is when human creativity should be limited. However, there should be an exception when it comes to plants for they do not have brains to process the pain (Dove, 2014). 

On the other hand, I think biomanipulation might be justifiable when it is used for bigger purposes like in research for ways to better understand human body or improve the way of life. For example, in his experiment, Osamu Shimomura inserted a GFP gene that found in a particular bioluminescent jellyfish into the mice’s DNA to study its biological process and diseases (Herper, 2001). As a result, he discovered that that GFP gene enables researchers to monitor the proliferation of tumor cells (Valaskova et al., 2009). 

Despite all the advantages we may get out of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), I think we should have some restrictions when it comes to using biotechnology, even for scientists, for it can lead to abuses of beings or, worse, a dangerous creature. 

Mice Expressing GFP
Real Jellyfish


Work Cited 

De Menezes, Marta. Live Bicyclus anynana butterfly with modified wing pattern. 2000. Photograph. 13 May 2018. Retrieved from http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/05/28/butterflywings.php

Herper, Matthew. Mice Expressing GFP.  26 July 2001. Photograph. 13 May 2018. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/2001/07/26/0726gfp.html#4155fc406508

Pinterest. Real Jellyfish. 2012. Photograph. 13 May 2018. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/296322850473398272/

Dove, Laurie. “Do plants feel pain?” HowStuffWorks. 3 October 2014. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/plants-feel-pain.htm

Herper, Matthew. “Biotech's Glowing Breakthrough.” Forbes. 26 July 2001. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/2001/07/26/0726gfp.html#4155fc406508

Reinert, Birgit. “Asymmetrical Butterfly Wings.” Genome News Network. 28 May 2004. Retrieved from http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/05/28/butterflywings.php

Valaskova, Z., Lackovicoya, L., Vrabcova, M., Bizik, J., Perzelova, A., Macikova, I., Danihel, L., Kinova, S., Buckingham, T., & Hulin, I. “Does incorporation of gene for green fluorescent protein in BP6 fibrosarcoma tumor cells depress their intraperitoneal growth in rats?” US National Library of Medicine, vol. 110, issue 3, 2009. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19507630

Vesna, Victoria. “BioArt Part2” Cole UC online. Youtube. 17 May 2012. Web. 13 May 2018.

Yetisen, A., Davis, J., Coskun, A., Church, G., & Yun, S.H. “Trends in Biotechnology.” Crossmark, vol. 33, issue 12, 23 November 2015. Retrieved from https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/fulltext/S0167-7799(15)00205-X

Comments

  1. Emily LeungMay 13, 2018 at 10:35 PM

    I also agree that biomanipulation is unacceptable for artistic purposes. I thought it was interesting when you mentioned different rules for plants. I see this principle applying to vegetarianism -- since plants do not have brains people feel comfortable eating plants but not animals with brains.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Levina LinMay 16, 2018 at 10:59 PM

    I had the same initial reaction as you to the idea of bioart, and found it to be a bit unsettling and at times senseless. I agree with you that limitations should be placed on the manipulation of life purely for artistic purposes, and that the most acceptable uses of biomanipulation include research applications. I also work with the GFP gene in my research to monitor cell proliferation, so I completely understand your point about the potential that biomanipulation holds to improve human life - when used correctly, but also the need for restrictions to prevent its misuse.

    ReplyDelete

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