Week 6: BioTech+Art
What troubles me most about this segment of the course is the lack of discussion into the ethical concerns surrounding transgenic art.
The lecture prominently features Joe Davis, who claims that he is the most published human in existence because his genetically engineered E. coli have replicated DNA sequences that Davis created. Never mind that that claim probably does not hold true because genetic mutations have likely altered his genes during transcription; these artificial sequences, without a clear understanding of the proteins they may come to express, possibly pose a health threat. Misfolded proteins, or prions, cause diseases such as mad cow disease, and without a clear understanding of what one is doing the artist may be at risk of causing diseases of the same vein.
There are other, less scientific criticisms of genetic modification that is not addressed. The most prominent is the one of humans playing god, meddling in the process of life creation. GMOs have addressed these concerns by saying the modification attacks specific problems and shortcomings, eventually bringing direct benefits to the human race. But Alba, the GFP bunny, does no such thing. In some ways Eduardo Kac gives contradictory answers: he purportedly aims to raise dialog on ethics of genetic engineering, but at the same time eschews the discussion entirely as to incorporate life invention into artmaking.
Engineering is defined as "The creative application of scientific principles...all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property." The fluorescent gene serves no "intended function" for the benefit of Alba. Kac's project does not solve any problems, instead raising questions for others to solve. Therefore I believe it's not proper to use Alba to talk about genetic engineering. Modified? Definitely. Engineered? Questionable.
Then there is the issue of what to do with the piece as it nears death. I've worked in my father's medical lab in Korea, where he runs experiments on the inner ear using rats, guinea pigs and mice. Once the experiment is finished the rodent is put in a CO2 chamber where it is put to rest. From what I can gather, no such plan was given for Alba. In fact, Louis-Marie Houdebine, the researcher who did the actual genetic modification for Kac, was simply "informed one day that bunny was dead without any reason."
No one knows what Kac did with Alba after she died. I find that very troubling.
References:
1. Prion Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved 12 May 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/prions/index.html
2. Digital image. Jenny, Allen L. Micrograph of brain tissue affected by BSE. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 2003. https://www.fda.gov/media/77726/download
3. Digital image. Kac, Eduardo. Photograph of Alba the fluorescent bunny. Retrieved 12 May 2019. http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor
4. Smith, Ralph J. "Engineering." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 5 Oct 2017. https://www.britannica.com/technology/engineering
5. Philipkoski, Kristen. "RIP: Alba, The Glowing Bunny." Wired. Condé Nast. 12 Aug 2002. https://www.wired.com/2002/08/rip-alba-the-glowing-bunny/
The lecture prominently features Joe Davis, who claims that he is the most published human in existence because his genetically engineered E. coli have replicated DNA sequences that Davis created. Never mind that that claim probably does not hold true because genetic mutations have likely altered his genes during transcription; these artificial sequences, without a clear understanding of the proteins they may come to express, possibly pose a health threat. Misfolded proteins, or prions, cause diseases such as mad cow disease, and without a clear understanding of what one is doing the artist may be at risk of causing diseases of the same vein.
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| Brain tissue of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease. |
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| Alba, Eduardo Kac's genetically modified rabbit. |
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| Experimental apparatus at my dad's lab. If I remember right it's for holding a mouse's head still. Not sure. |
No one knows what Kac did with Alba after she died. I find that very troubling.
References:
1. Prion Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved 12 May 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/prions/index.html
2. Digital image. Jenny, Allen L. Micrograph of brain tissue affected by BSE. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 2003. https://www.fda.gov/media/77726/download
3. Digital image. Kac, Eduardo. Photograph of Alba the fluorescent bunny. Retrieved 12 May 2019. http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor
4. Smith, Ralph J. "Engineering." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 5 Oct 2017. https://www.britannica.com/technology/engineering
5. Philipkoski, Kristen. "RIP: Alba, The Glowing Bunny." Wired. Condé Nast. 12 Aug 2002. https://www.wired.com/2002/08/rip-alba-the-glowing-bunny/
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