Week 6 "Biotech + Art"

This week's topic, biotechnology and art was something that I never really thought could be connected. However, on the last segment of the lectures, I finally grasped the concept of how they can be hand-in-hand. For most life science majors, the majority of the students have known about genetic crossovers and how genetic technologies can be used to create  "hybrids" of certain flowers. In fact, flower color and species crossovers are the textbook examples of the various kinds of effects genetic engineering can have on flowers. On the other hand, these flowers can be viewed as a form of art, or perhaps, the mixing of genetics of the flowers to create the desired colors in a flower could be similar to mixing paint to create the perfect painting.

Gregor Mendel,  the father of genetics and the person who showed me how genetics can affect the color of flowers if you crossbreed them. 

While the genetic crossing over of flowers is the textbook example, there are also other cases where biotechnology can be used to create "art". I have to emphasize the word "art" because art comes in many forms and its appeal affects people differently. With flowers, most people can understand it's a romantic or sweet gesture, or even an beautiful orchard can be an artistic masterpiece. However, with genetic crossovers, hybrids of particular species, such as butterflies can create an incredibly beautiful hybrid butterfly.

See link: http://phys.org/news/2011-09-appalachian-tiger-swallowtail-butterfly-hybrid.html

As shown in the lectures, a completely 'unnatural" product of animal genetic engineering can result in fluorescent animals. While this might be considered bizarre by some individuals, others may perceive it as art. Inevitably, different expressions of science, through biotechnology, can show that science can be perceived as art.

As for the sources that best helped me understand the concept of biotechnology and art, I felt like movies such as Jurassic World and The Fly. Unfortunately, I'm may not be as artistic as my peers, so I found these sources as either scientifically interesting or weird. However, I can understand how some might find these sources as artistic in their own way. As I have said at the start of the post, I do feel that the true topic that made the connection of biotechnology and art was the concept of genetic engineering of flowers. 

Sources:

• "Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Is a Hybrid of Two Other Swallowtails, Scientists Find." Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Is a Hybrid of Two Other Swallowtails, Scientists Find. Web. 09 May 2016.
• "Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Is a Hybrid of Two Other Swallowtails, Scientists Find." Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Is a Hybrid of Two Other Swallowtails, Scientists Find. Web. 09 May 2016.
• D.L. ParsellNational Geographic News January 11, 2002. "Fluorescent Mice Herald Gene-Transfer Breakthrough." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web. 09 May 2016.
• "Generating Green Fluorescent Mice by Germline Transmission of Green Fluorescent ES Cells." Generating Green Fluorescent Mice by Germline Transmission of Green Fluorescent ES Cells. Web. 09 May 2016.
• "GLOWING ANIMALS: Pictures of Beasts Shining for Science." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web. 09 May 2016.
• Hansen, Lauren. "7 Genetically Modified Animals That Glow in the Dark." 7 Genetically Modified Animals That Glow in the Dark. 2013. Web. 09 May 2016.