I feel that my fist blog post should be personal. In time I will be using this space to show what I'm getting up to in the studio or during residencies, record exhibitions, and publish information about other artists working in scientific fields. But for now, something personal.
This is a photo of my DNA. More accurately, genomic DNA isolated from cells in my cheek. It should be appearing on your screen at about life size. It is... remarkably unimpressive. Yet those stringy, lumpy strands nestled in the tips of these two PCR tubes arguably contain more information about me than any photo you'd care to name.
The process of extracting DNA was, likewise, almost disappointingly simple. Given the complexity of the molecule itself, the extraction process could be done in your own kitchen using just a little soap and alcohol, if you're careful. I was fortunate to have access to more precise equipment while artist in residence in the Biotechnology department of Jamestown Community College, NY. But more on that another day. For now, I give you this: my first (and so far only) self portrait.
This is a photo of my DNA. More accurately, genomic DNA isolated from cells in my cheek. It should be appearing on your screen at about life size. It is... remarkably unimpressive. Yet those stringy, lumpy strands nestled in the tips of these two PCR tubes arguably contain more information about me than any photo you'd care to name.
The process of extracting DNA was, likewise, almost disappointingly simple. Given the complexity of the molecule itself, the extraction process could be done in your own kitchen using just a little soap and alcohol, if you're careful. I was fortunate to have access to more precise equipment while artist in residence in the Biotechnology department of Jamestown Community College, NY. But more on that another day. For now, I give you this: my first (and so far only) self portrait.
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