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| 3-D faces created from DNA samples found in public. |
A New
York Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg picks up things people leave in public, extracts their DNA from it and creates a 3-D face that looks like the DNA
owner. This project is called “Stranger Visions”, where portrait sculptures are
completed from the bits of genetic material that are collected in public.
Heather got the idea for this project from the appeal of a single hair; it was
then turned into a research project to discover as much as she could from
someone by an artifact they left behind.
The
process begins with finding a sample in a public place. These samples could be
a strand of hair, a chewed piece of gum, and even a cigarette butt; it has to
be something that contains cells from a person’s body. Heather then takes this sample to a community
biotechnology, called Genspace. At this lab a standard DNA extraction protocol
is used to mine the DNA, purify it, and use it in polymerase chain reactions. After
the sequencing information is obtained, the traits form the individual’s DNA
and deposits it into a computer program that generates a 3-D model of a face. This
process takes about 8 hours to print one of the faces in NYU’s Advanced Media
Studio. The print looks like a block of powder; the face is then dug out, baked,
and hardened with a superglue-like structure.
There
are limitations behind these masterpieces. These faces are not exact replicas
of the strangers DNA that has been found. Heather insists that it is more of a
family resemblance. Also, the age of the DNA’s unknown donor cannot be
determined from the DNA samples. This project was started from Dewey-Hagborg’s
own DNA self-portrait two years ago. People have had different opinions of how
the DNA is found for these portraits; some people feel that this is unethical. People
feel that you should not be able to just take some ones DNA from things just because
it is in public. They feel that their privacy is being taken advantage of. This
art project is the connection between art, technology, and science.
I found this absolutely amazing. If is extraordinary that just from a piece of gum or strand of hair someone can make a 3-D image of what you would look like. In a way I do find it to be a little creepy. It makes you think twice what you will spit out or leave behind. The persons DNA that you are using did not give you permission to use it, though it is left in a public place. I feel that this could cause a lot of controversy with people. But, in all I think this is brilliant and I would love to have it done to me, with my permission.
All I have to say is WOW! Who would of thought that from a single sample of ones cells could predict the outcome of ones appearance just from a piece of trash left behind. I have seen similar methods televised in forensics departments, but what makes this stand out is the DNA helps code for different traits and then these traits are imported to a 3D structure of what the person were to look like. Although you can't differentiate between age or exact replicas in appearance, it serves as a good purpose for the vision of strangers. With the help of this method, there could be possibilities that are developed to eliminate these limitations. This is a huge step for not only genetics, but forensics as well. We can only predict so much for the possible suspect, but this lead could help provide shorter ranges in cracking the case. As for genetics, it helps provide more information in the genome sequence and possibly could help as differentiate between others. 22,000 genes are recognized in the human genome, what if this process can help code for more?
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible how the advancement in technology had led us this far. It is definitely shocking that a stranger would be able to a sample of my DNA and create a face that looks like me. It's like the scientific, advance way of Facebook stalking. However, this could be helpful in the field of law enforcements to track the possible people involved in a murder.
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