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Biotechnology as New Art Media Biotechnology utilizes technology based in biology to research natural and manipulated processes of living organisms or tissues. Tissue culturing and engineering have a long research history in which new ways of growing cells is optimized in the laboratory in hopes of creating replacement tissue and organs. Tissue culturing is the process of growing cells (derived from plants or animals) separate from the host organism in a nutritive media that is maintained in a sterile environment. Cells extracted from the original host can be grown as a primary cell line, which has a limited life cycle, or as a continuous cell line, where it the nature of the cell is changed in order to live indefinitely. Historically, experimental tissue culturing is not new. Ross Harrison in 1910 removed and pulverized frog spinal cord tissue and was able to observe nerve cell and axon growth (Fig. 1). A couple of years later, Alexis Carrel in 1912, took a slice of a heart tissue of a chicken embryo and the cells alive for supposedly 34 years. In actuality, the old cells were being replaced with new cells in nutritive media (Fig. 2). However, for tissue culturing methods, the cell replenishment proved to be an important sterile method of keeping cell lines alive for extended amounts of time - until the exhaustion of cell regeneration. Modern tissue culturing is now exploring the therapeutic potentials of growing stem cells and experimenting with different cellular media that may improve growth and environmental efficiency.
The tissue cells (Fig. 3) used in the Living Sculpture Series have a finite life cycle meaning that all created sculptures will have a limited proliferation time and currently expire in about one month in vitro. In addition to the mammalian cells that are purchased or scavenged, tissue from the artist’s body may be included cellular mixture before entering the growing environment as a way to integrate the personal cellular and DNA signature to each piece. All cells are purified and contained in protective environments in-studio and in-exhibition to protect the cells and the viewing audience from cross-contamination. The protective environments include air filtration, gas exchange regulation and antibiotics as preventative measures. Just as an artist in the studio working with paints, solvents and machinery, all aspects pertaining to safety of the artist, audience and environment are highly regarded.
Using tissue culturing as new media creates the opportunity to both: critique current scientific research that affects our society or bodies; and to make engaging work that utilizes the technology in novel ways. Although some humorously or modestly deny their creativeness, laboratory researchers are also amazing artists. For practical and medical reasons, replacement tissue already in use or in development such as skin, blood vessels and bone requires years of experimentation and study of different cell matrix models and growing mediums in order to produce a specimen that mimics or resembles the naturally occurring tissue and successfully function. In the collaboration between the artist and scientist, both benefit from this re-discovered, creative bond to create work that evokes both the intellect and emotion. Bibliography Fell, H.B. (1972). Tissue culture and its contribution to biology and medicine. Department of Pathology. University of Cambridge. Keshishian, H. (2004). Ross Harrison’s ‘‘The Outgrowth of the Nerve Fiber Ryan, J. Ph.D. (2007). 1910 to 1923: Carrel and the early days of tissue culture. Corning. http://www.corning.com/LifeSciences/cells100/portalC.asp.
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