Biotechnology + Art

This week’s lectures and readings cover the intersection of biotechnology and art. Biotechnology is essentially a form of manipulating life through methods like GMOs in food, experimentation on animals, creating hybrid species, which all, while controversial, have created both progress and debate (uconlineprogram). Things I have often read about that face major controversy are operations like gene editing and cloning exist within this discipline, but obviously there exists viability in the applications of biotechnology.

A graphic showing the usual negative sentiments around biotech, especially GMOs
Courtesy of: www.doctordavidfriedman.com

            One very recent application of biotechnology that I have read about involves a scientist in China using gene editing for the first time in history on human babies. He attempted to edit the embryo’s genes to prevent the baby from contracting the father’s HIV. However, he faked a lot of results and circumvented many laws to do so causing his arrest and prosecution (Rana). While there exists another way to do this with washing the sperm with a virus, fertility operations are not available to parents that are positive in China, which was the original reason why the doctor went to such lengths to perform the gene editing. The outrage from this is because the consequences on future generations of this gene editing is unknown and one small mistake could have major repercussions for offspring, but this illustrates the benefits of biotechnology where traditional laws fail individuals. 

The process the Chinese scientist followed
Courtesy of: www.wsj.com

            I think the most interesting overlap of biotechnology and art has been where “BioArt” has been used to critique on social topics because it uses such a concrete method to communicate ideas. Natalie Jeremijenko is an artist/engineer who clones walnut trees to plant in various locations around the world to show how social and environmental differences impact the growth of identical trees (Gkoutziouli). This is meant to comment on how humans are affecting the environment around them via the use of cloning technology. For example, trees in locations with lots of pollution will show their sickness and the effects of human destruction demonstrating the true effects of these actions.

Jeremijenko's walnut trees
Courtesy of: www.deeproot.com

            While biotechnology has been rather controversial in the past, I believe it is more of a tool to aid human society. Biotechnology aims to change the human and better fit him or her to the world (Wayne State University). I think this viewpoint is important to remember when discussing the ethics of biotechnology because while certain procedures may seem extreme or unorthodox, it may be more beneficial for us to abandon outdated dogma and look forward. Additionally, where art and biotechnology mix, there is a way to provoke thought and explore ethics and evolutionary understanding (Delgado). Lastly, biotechnology is a way to make the person a canvas, which I believe produces powerful results in both art and science.

Sources:

Delgado, Rick. “How Artists Are Blending Biotechnology And Art.” MakeUseOf, 8 May 2015, www.makeuseof.com/tag/artists-blending-biotechnology-art/.

Gkoutziouli, Katerina. “Art and Biotechnology: When Art Looks into Science.” The Rest Is Art, 6 Nov. 2018, therestis.art/2010/10/26/art-and-biotechnology-when-art-looks-into-science/.

Rana, Preetika. “How a Chinese Scientist Broke the Rules to Create the First Gene-Edited Babies.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 10 May 2019, www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-chinese-scientist-broke-the-rules-to-create-the-first-gene-edited-babies-11557506697.

uconlineprogram. “Biotech intro NEW.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=54&v=Fvp924_pbgc.

“Why Study Biotechnology? - Biological Sciences.” Wayne State University, www.clas.wayne.edu/Biology/Why-Study-Biotechnology---Biological-Sciences.