WEEK 6 | BIOTECH + ART

     Transgenic topics have been so stigmatized in recent years. I heard of Joe Davis before and the very first impression was that he was so much like a typical science fiction figure who experimented with crazy ideas. However, after this week's lecture, I started to reconsider this controversial field and found that Joe Davis incorporated serious thought process and hard core science into his works. I particularly love his idea of designing a genitus symbol and genetically engineered that into E.Coli cells. Generally, scientists utilize digital signal to transmit information but Joe Davis used living cells as a novel form to carry human messages. Similarly, when GFP was first implanted into rabbit genome, the methodology was awarded Nobel Prize but the later modification of animal genome using GFP was considered immoral.  

joe davis and his exhibition 

    I am originally a biochemistry major and have experiences with a lot of transgenic experiments. The boundary of using life as an expressive form depends on how much value this transgenic experiment weights. For example, GFP gives a luminescent signal about the point modification, which is extremely valuable for precise location of certain phenotype changes. However, if GFP is simply used for novel visual features, then this modification enforced on animals would be extremely immoral.  

GFP cat for HIV research 

    Considering the robotics lesson, the threat imposed by genetic engineering and artificial intelligence is essentially different. The development of robotics do have an upper constraint, which is human imagination and technology. However, once genetic engineering is largely deployed, it would go beyond human control since it essentially change the basic genetic codes, the fundamental form composing human beings. Therefore, transgenic is a fascinating field but should be under the control of legislations and moral conduct. 

Jackson Lab of transgenic mice

References:

Jha, Alok. "Glow cat: fluorescent green felines could help study of HIV." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 11 Sept. 2011. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/sep/11/genetically-modified-glowing-cats>.

2012, 16:30 23 March, All Comments Should Respect the New Scientist House Rules. If You Think a Particular Comment Breaks These Rules Then Please Let Us Know, Quoting the Comment in Question., and Ander. "Joe Davis: The mad scientist of MIT?" New Scientist. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2012/03/the-mad-scientist-of-mit.html>.

"The Daily Galaxy: News from Planet Earth & Beyond." 'The Daily Galaxy: News from Planet Earth & Beyond' N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/03/the-brilliantly.html>.

"Mice and Services - Jax/The Jackson Labs." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <https://www.bing.com/cr?IG=EF4A8F6CE92841249C94263FE81EE8FB&CID=33976510F7136E342F236F93F6836FEE&rd=1&h=zVy45SNkEeN8df0R6BzVkDQh0_7ibKxq8Jo75pTxzO0&v=1&r=https%3a%2f%2fwww.jax.org%2fjax-mice-and-services&p=DevEx,5076.1>.

"Transgenic Animals: Their Benefits To Human Welfare." ACTION BIOSCIENCE. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/margawati.html>.