Week 6 BioTech + Art Blog

Finally we discuss gene splicing and the ethics behind it! This topic is probably the most interesting to me out of everything we have studied thus far because it is just so fun. I'm reminding of the horror movie Splice in which two doctors mix animal and human genes to create a "daughter." The underlying message of Splice was that mixing of genes is dangerous, but is that really so?

One major concern you'll always hear about is genetically modified food. Videos such as this McDonald's experiment freaks people out and worries them about what they are putting into their bodies.

However, I have learned in other classes such as my Geography 5 class that the risks of eating GMF is actually the same as eating regular food. They are not specifically worse and, if anything, the genetic changes help fast production and mass availability across the globe. I am a supporter of these foods (although it is worrisome that some of these foods are becoming "drug-like" to us).

I also support Eduardo Kac's efforts in creating the fluorescent bunny. To me he criticisms against him are nothing more than the cultural double standards set in our society towards science and the arts. "Science" is consistently seen as progressive and having mankind's best interests at heart while art is only seen as whimsical and pointless in moving mankind forward in any way. What gives one field the right but not the other? When you realize discrepancies such as these it seems like the argument is not really one over ethics, but over power. It is not a discussion of if but rather who. Ultimately I would want artists to be able to use these technologies to push us as a species even further than science could do on its own. Art's ignorance of the rules is exactly what allows it to create rather than just copy. It is what brings progress. People like Joe Davis understand that.

Resources
Combs, Chris. "Glowing Animals: Beasts Shining for Science." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 14 May 2009. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
"Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
"Splice." The Pinocchio Theory. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
Wenk, Gary. "This Is Your Brain on Food." SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.