WEEK 6: BIOTECH + ART

 This weeks topic regarding Biotech and art was very informative while at the same time very interesting. I really enjoyed this topic because the possibilities are endless for this kind of art, however there it gets to a point where the type of art becomes very controversial to the viewers do to the techniques used to create that art. This includes techniques like transgenics, mutilation, mutation, recombinance or selective breeding. What intrigues me the most about this controversy is that some of these techniques seem to be only controversial when the artist uses them, however we have scientist that do similar kind of techniques for research purposes and that doesn't get the same controversy or negative attention.


This is a great example that we see on a day to day life. The use of genetically modified organism include, fruits, vegetables and animals. The definition of GMO is "A genetically modified organism contains DNA that has been altered using genetic engineering. Genetically modified animals are mainly used for research purposes, while genetically modified plants are common in today’s food supply." This is something that we know is happening but most people don't care because it benifits them since they are getting fruits and vegetables that are bigger and last longer than a non-gmo. Another that is seen alot in our food chain is the use of selective breeding among animals that are used as meat like chickens, pigs, cows, and fish, in order to produce the same result.





The two pictures above are the controversy that we see today, the use of the same process seen as controversial when the artist Eduardo Kac call this altered bunny by the name of Alba a work of art. It was created with the help of French genetics Louis Houdebine. However the picture on the right is not seen as controversial because it was done in a lab as an experiment by scientists trying to study biological process with regards to diseases.


Image Sources:

“Alba (Rabbit).” Wikipedia, 24 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba_(rabbit). 

“Cancers ‘glow’ in Mice.” Understanding Animal Research, www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/glowing-mice. Accessed 12 May 2023. 

Scoville, Heather. “GMOs and Evolution: What We Know and What We Should Be Asking.” ThoughtCo, 19 July 2018, www.thoughtco.com/genetically-modified-organisms-and-evolution-1224510. 

Sources:

“Genetically Modified Organisms.” Education, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/genetically-modified-organisms/#. Accessed 12 May 2023. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 1.” Accessed 11 May. 2023. 

“Scientist? Artist. Pirate! Who Is Joe Davis?” YouTube, 10 Sept. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GkZt00Qics. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 2.” Accessed 11 May. 2023. 

“Alba (Rabbit).” Wikipedia, 24 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba_(rabbit). 

“Cancers ‘glow’ in Mice.” Understanding Animal Research, www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/glowing-mice. Accessed 12 May 2023. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 3.” Accessed 11 May. 2023. 

Scoville, Heather. “GMOs and Evolution: What We Know and What We Should Be Asking.” ThoughtCo, 19 July 2018, www.thoughtco.com/genetically-modified-organisms-and-evolution-1224510. 

Vesna, Victoria. “Lecture Part 4.” Accessed 11 May. 2023. 





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