Week 6- BioTech and Art
As James Watson stated about Biotech, "It was simple, you can explain the idea to anyone". And it is simple to explain what it is. What's not simple, are the questions about if it should be done, and how. What should the limit to the artistic license be when other living organisms are involved.
While many people may explain many different answers to this question, mine is quite simple, and likely follows the belief of another scientist, Eduardo Kac. As long as there are no living organisms that feel prolonged pain because of these genetic mutations, then it is acceptable to me. Whether it be Kathy High's creations or any of the other various projects at Simbiotica,
they were likely taken on with caution and care so as not to harm things. In many aspects, this research and artistic expression may help de-stigmatize some of the negative views about genetic engineering. While someone may see it as a unnatural and wrong thing to do to a living organism, when an individual like Eduardo Kac creates a fluorescent bunny,
it becomes much more approachable to many people. So while there may be negatives to genetic engineering, as can be seen in the McDonalds decomposition video, when artistic expression is involved, there are bound to be some positive things that result.
Bibliography:
"SymbioticA." SymbioticA : SymbioticA : The University of Western Australia. University of Western Australia, 2010. Web. 14 May 2017.
Griffin, Kathy. "Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics." ACTION BIOSCIENCE. N.p., Nov. 2013. Web. 15 May 2017.
Mayer, Jorge. "Golden Rice Project." The Golden Rice Project. Golden Rice Humanitarian Board, n.d. Web. 13 May 2017.
"Industries." Home | AMSilk. Gates Foundation, 2012. Web. 15 May 2017.
Swaminathan, Nikhil. "Good and Evil: A Cancer Vaccine from Tobacco Plants." Scientific American. N.p., 22 July 2008. Web. 15 May 2017.
Here, an example of some of the more Far reaching possibilities from genetic Engineering |
Here is one of the many Projects engineered at Symbiotica |
Here you are able to see the genetic Modification that was done in order To make the bunny fluorescent |
Bibliography:
"SymbioticA." SymbioticA : SymbioticA : The University of Western Australia. University of Western Australia, 2010. Web. 14 May 2017.
Griffin, Kathy. "Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering and Transgenics." ACTION BIOSCIENCE. N.p., Nov. 2013. Web. 15 May 2017.
Mayer, Jorge. "Golden Rice Project." The Golden Rice Project. Golden Rice Humanitarian Board, n.d. Web. 13 May 2017.
"Industries." Home | AMSilk. Gates Foundation, 2012. Web. 15 May 2017.
Swaminathan, Nikhil. "Good and Evil: A Cancer Vaccine from Tobacco Plants." Scientific American. N.p., 22 July 2008. Web. 15 May 2017.
Comments
Post a Comment