Artist Creates 3-D Faces from DNA Left in Public

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.   

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/tech/innovation/dna-face-sculptures/index.html?iref=allsearch

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/artist-creates-3d-models-faces-discarded-dna-article-1.1384149

Genetic forensics that have a more "artistic" approach

 

Cave paintings drawn over 20,000 years ago depict images of many animals, most notably in France, those of horses. Archaeologists have been trying to determine for years whether or not these cave images represent actual creatures that coexisted with the human artists that drew these cave wall frescos, or creatures derived from their imaginations.  DNA from the bones and teeth of remains found in the area showed that the creatures have black or brown coats, the same colors depicted in many of the drawings, with aesthetic traits such as spotted patterns known as leopard, being prevalent in both pieces of evidence.  The DNA extraction from such old remains was a difficult process; factors such as contamination, which plagued DNA evidence from the Netharlands years before, needed to be taken seriously.  In order to combat said issues, precautionary measures include UV lights for sterilization, HEPA filter air flow, clean suits and bleach.  With biological data and artistic history filling each remnant to the brim, no amount of safe collection procedure is too great.

 

Artistic Abilities Triggered by "Genetic Changes"

Though this article wasn't extremely current (2003), it was interesting. My professor brought up the possibility of things other than physical traits being genetically linked. She mentioned that her grandfather had been an engineer and her son became one as well. She said that they had never met and she doubted that her son even knew what his great-grandfather had done for a living. I started to think about other traits and if they might be genetically linked. Art runs in my family. My cousin and I both enjoy painting and drawing (he actually went to school for art) and, before the tremors started, my uncle was a very talented painter. Could artistic ability be genetically linked? I didn't find anything about that, but according to Professor Richard Klein, Professor of Anthropological Studies at Stanford, the explosion of art and culture that occurred in humans between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago was due to a "genetic mutation". Evidence in support of this theory cites FOXP2, the first gene proved to affect the ability to learn and process language. So according to this guy, our language abilities as a species reflect our artistic abilities (i.e. making and wearing jewelry and drawing cave paintings, etc.). Art is a form of communication so this makes sense.