Communicating tissue culture as art

Biologically related technologies are developing rapidly. Their effects will shape the future of human society and the human environment. This paper examines, through the discipline of Photomedia, possible futures dominated by biologically related technologies. More specifically, it explores the relevant issues through the art project called \u27Tissue Culture & Art\u27 (therefore refer to as TC&A). TC&A is a research and development project which explores the use of tissue culture and tissue engineering as a medium for artistic expression. Biologically related technologies can be used as a source for questioning the traditional meta-dichotomy of nature versus culture. TC&A redefines the terrain of what is natural/living and what is artificial/non-living. The art of the 60\u27s and 70\u27s emphasised discourses of nature by opposing human culture and technological progress. The Post-Human art of the 80\u27s and 90\u27s investigated enthusiastically technological hype focusing on the human individual as the source of the art expression. The TC&A project attempts to combine some of the conflicting ideologies of these art movements into a new evolutionary stage, by combining discourses of nature and cultural progress. Through the theme of biologically related-technologies TC&A investigates the creation of a high-tech nature which will sustain the survival of both, the environment and humans (whatever kind they will be). Furthermore, this paper looks at reducing the gaps created by different paces of evolutions (biological, cultural and techno-scientific) which are accompanied by a lack of corresponding social values and social adaptation. The paper offers an approach which integrates art and science disciplines and communicating them to the wider community. This thesis contains textual analysis, graphic maps and TC&A visuals in order to explore and imagine the Terra lcognita of the future

Cap a una nova classe d'ésser : El cos augmentat

La quantitat de biomassa de cèl·lules i teixits vius dissociats és de milers de tones. Aquests fragments no encaixen en les classificacions biològiques o culturals actuals. La noció de cos augmentat desenvolupada pel projecte TC(A (Tissue Culture ( Art, 'Cultiu de Teixits i Art') es pot veure com una manera de definir aquesta categoria de vida i, al mateix temps, com un intent de desestabilitzar algunes de les arrelades percepcions de la classificació dels éssers vius. El cos augmentat és una amalgamació de la vida del teixit i del fenotip ampliat humà -un cos unificat per a fragments vius incorporis, un dispositiu ontològic, pensat per a fer veure la necessitat de reexaminar les taxonomies i les percepcions jeràrquiques de la vida actuals. El cos augmentat és una metàfora tangible per a l'ideal utòpic d'absència de víctimes; al mateix temps, paradoxalment, és una encarnació del sacrifici de la víctima

Hacia una nueva clase de ser - El cuerpo extendido

La biomasa de células y tejidos vivos disociados se cuenta por miles de toneladas. Estos fragmentos no encajan dentro de las clasificaciones biológicas o culturales actuales. La noción de cuerpo extendido desarrollada por el proyecto TC&A (Tissue Culture & Art, 'Cultivo de Tejidos y Arte') se puede ver como una manera de definir esta categoría de vida y, al mismo tiempo, como un intento de desestabilizar algunas de las arraigadas percepciones de la clasificación de los seres vivos. El cuerpo extendido es una amalgamación de la vida del tejido y del fenotipo extendido humano -un cuerpo unificado para fragmentos vivos incorpóreos, un dispositivo ontológico, diseñado para señalar la necesidad de reexaminar las taxonomías y percepciones jerárquicas de la vida actuales. El cuerpo extendido es una metáfora tangible para el ideal utópico de la ausencia de víctimas; al mismo tiempo, paradójicamente, es una encarnación del sacrificio de la víctima

Morphology, characterization and distribution of retinal photoreceptors in the South American (Lepidosiren paradoxa) and spotted African (Protopterus dolloi) lungfishes

Lungfishes are the closest living relatives of the ancestors to all terrestrial vertebrates and have remained relatively unchanged since the early Lochkovin period (410 mya). Lungfishes, therefore, represent a critical stage in vertebrate evolution and their sensory neurobiology is of considerable interest. This study examines the ultrastructure of the retina of two species of lungfishes: the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa and the spotted African lungfish, Protopterus dolloi in an attempt to assess variations in photoreception in these two ancient groups of sarcopterygian (lobe-finned) fishes. In juvenile P. dolloi, the retina contains one rod and two cone photoreceptor types (one containing a red oil droplet), while only one rod and one cone photoreceptor type is present in adult L. paradoxa. Both species lack double cones. The large size and inclusion of oil droplets in both species apart from one of the cone photoreceptor types in P. dolloi suggests that L. paradoxa and P. dolloi are adapted for increasing sensitivity. However, the complement of photoreceptor types suggests that there may be a major difference in the capacity to discriminate color (dichromatic and monochromatic photoreception in P. dolloi and L. paradoxa, respectively). This study suggests that the visual needs of these two species may differ.10 page(s