Extra Credit Blog #1

Background information on Reardon

The event that I attend was a guest presenter named Jenny Reardon from the University of Santa Cruz and it was called Just Genomes? At first, I thought this was going to be the same presentation as the first event I attended with Daniel Navon, but I was complexly wrong. As the presentation began, I was very confused because it seemed she would just reference her book which me and many other students did not read so it was harder to grasps the information. After 15 minutes into the presentation I was able to make the connection from the presentation and had a better understanding. The main argument of this presentation was does genetics have a relationship to peoples race and color in their skin pigmentation, and also cheaper alternative to looking and solving someone’s personal genome. 

            

Reardon beginning her presentation 

One correlation I made between this presentation and Navon presentation was the fact both of them did not like leaving questions unanswered. For example, Reardon was talking about when she worked on the genome project, there was a huge argument between scientist and how some just wanted to solve it and other wanted to understand why the genome worked a specific way. This is similar to Navon presentation when he was having a problem with solidifying his confusion but that never stopped him until he got the data needed to prove his theory correct (NAVON, 2018). Another portion of this class that related to this presentation was the section, Medtech and art. These two connected because of the standing issue of some people not having access to the material needed in order to preform specific trials or experiments which makes it that much harder to generate a conclusion and find results. This even also correlated to science and technology because through technological advancements it is making these experimental producers much easier and less expensive. (Snow C.P., 1959). Technology is allowing science research to be performed at a much cheaper and more effective rate. 

            

My friends and I at our last event 

This event was definitely helpful despite being one of the more confusing ones. It gave me great background information about the genome project and the limitation many scientists are facing due to insufficient funds for their research projects. This presentation will help me in my final because it gave me the perspective of how many scientists are not able to perform expensive research trials due to not being able to afford the expensive machinery. Thanks to technology, this barrier will soon be diminished because it is making scientific experiments much cheaper. I would have defiantly recommended this event to my fellow peers because it gave a unique perspective to science and technology research. I feel like the negative aspects of science research aren’t really shown as they should, so people aware and possibly increase their research funds.

References 

NAVON, Daniel PhD. “The gene didn’t get the memo”. The Social Genome Knowledge & Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 13 April 2018, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, room 1101, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation

Reardon, Jenny PhD. “Just Genomes?”. The Social Genome Knowledge and Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 18 April 2018, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, room 1101, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation. 

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP, 1961.  Print.

Uconlineprogram. Medicine pt3. YouTube. April 22, 2012. Length 21:19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIX-9mXd3Y4

Week 8 Blog 

“Use of Nanotechnology and Its
Importance Outside Your Televisions.”

This week reading consisted of “The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact and fiction in the construction of a new Science” by Jim Gimzewski and Victoria Vesna and watched lectures by a guest James K. Gimzewski a professor here at UCLA and they both had to do with the interconnections between nanotechnology and art. Nanotechnology has shaped our society through the art of science fiction (Gimzewski & Vesna). According to Jim Gimzewski, Nanotechnology can be defined as “science that is concerned with control of matter at the scale of atoms and molecules” (Gimzewski &Vesna). I found this to be interesting because atoms and molecules are constantly changing shape as they interact with each other. Like atoms and molecules which are constantly changing, we can also change our perception to view the world around us differently. Both nanotechnology and media arts have a common background in which to address the issue of manipulation.

“Consumer Products
Inventory.”

Since nanotechnology and art is being integrated as a part of our daily lives, I found it interesting when our professor stated it was going to be the pushing factor into the 21 century (Nanotech Intro). The future is in the palm of our hands with new advancements every day. I feel like this week’s topic was closely related to bioart with genetic mutation within the food we eat (Bioart pt4). According to Professor Gimzewski, there are currently over 1000 products on the market which have been made by nanotechnology. (Nanotech Jim pt6). Like genetic food, products made by nanotechnology are also controversial and many people do approve of them due to not knowing the future outcomes of consuming these products. For example, the product slim shake chocolate shake, is low in calories because it contains mostly silicon nanoparticles. The reason for this product being so rich in flavor is because the silicon is surrounded by chocolate which makes it a smaller number of calories.

“Increased Application of Silver Nanoparticles
 in Healthcare Entices Demand.” 

 One thing that really stood out to me was nanoparticles and how they have various effects on everyday products we use. For example, silver Nano particles, which are found in our gym clothes, socks, and even some refrigerators are antibacterial and prevent the growth of bacteria on these surfaces (Nanotech Jim pt3). Nanotechnology and art is being integrated into our daily lives by products we use and consume to even the way we perceive the world around us. 

 

“Properties and Applications of Silver Nanoparticles.”

References 

Bhisey, Rohit. “Increased Application of Silver Nanoparticles in Healthcare Entices Demand.” TMR Research Blog, 16 June 2017, tmrresearchblog.com/increased-application-silver-nanoparticles-healthcare-entices-demand/.

“Consumer Products Inventory.” PEN News, www.nanotechproject.org/cpi/products/nanoceuticalstm-slim-shake-chocolate/.

Gimzewski, Jim and Victoria Vesna.The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact & Fiction in the Construction of a New Science, vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm.

“Properties and Applications of Silver Nanoparticles.” Properties and Applications of Quantum Dots, www.cd-bioparticles.com/t/Properties-and-Applications-of-Silver-Nanoparticles_60.html.

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt4. YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2012, Length 5:47. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI.

uconlineprogram. “Nanotech Intro.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Mar. 2012, Length 1:02. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ3y6TkXJ6Y.

uconlineprogram. “Nanotech Jim pt3.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, Length 12:21. www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108.

uconlineprogram. “Nanotech Jim pt6.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2012, Length 6:49. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKlViSKkPd0.

“Use of Nanotechnology and Its Importance Outside Your Televisions.” Use of Technology, Use of Technology, 18 Jan. 2017, www.useoftechnology.com/use-of-nanotechnology-and-its-importance/.

Blog Week 7

Inception 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3A3-zSOBT4.

This week we read, Neuroculture by Giovanni Frazzetto, The Spiritual Problem of the Man by Carl Jung, and watched various videos which all pertain to the topic of Neuroscience and art. I never really noticed this correlation between neuroscience and art until this week. According to Giovanni, he states “Ideas, concepts, and images in neuroscience widely circulate in culture and are portrayed in literature, film, works of art, the mass media, and commercial products, therefore stopping values and consumer practices.” (pg.1) For example, neuroscience research began due to curiosity of the general public. It surrounds our everyday life, through news articles and movies like inception. (Inception Trailer) Neuroscience ideas assimilate into cultural imaginary, just like in Jung article when he states, ”... man fight each other and find out psyche as something which thwarts our will.” (pg. 4) This connection to neuroscience is art is related to our own brain fighting ourselves, just like when we go back and forth when making a decision within our head. 

Modern Man in Search of a Soul.

In the video lectures, one thing that stood out to me was the idea of consciousness. The given definition was “state or condition of being conscious.” (Neuroscience pt1) With technology, we are becoming lazier and depending a lot of technology to do the thinking for us. This correlates back to the topic about robots and how they we humans are becoming one with them (Robotics pt1). This also reminded me of the movie stealth and how robots do not have consensuses but in that movie the robot did have one because he was unable to delete his memory, something every robot is programmed to do (Stealth). 

The use of medicine in order to help patients suffering from a chemical in balance is a big part of neuroscience. Despite many drugs like cocaine and LSD being tried in the early 50 and 60's, one thing that shocked me was Project MK Ultra which consisted of the CIA giving LSD to government workers to see if it could be used as a mind control drug (Neuroscience pt3). This project reminded me of the unethical issues related to artists working with gene mutations as a form of art (Bioart pt1). Despite being a south campus major, I never noticed how much Neuroscience shapes my daily life and impacts everything I do. To think this is only the beginning as we make new advances each and every day.

Project MK Ultra Patient
www.thesun.co.uk/news/5115368/the-top-secret-cia-experiment-behind-stranger-things-and-new-netflix-drama-wormwood/.

References

“Can We Create Consciousness In A Machine?” AGE OF ROBOTS Magazines, 14 Mar. 2018, www.neuroroboticsmagazine.com/can-create-consciousness-machine/.

Christodoulou, Holly. “The Top Secret CIA Experiment behind Stranger Things and New Netflix Drama Wormwood.” The Sun, The Sun, 24 Dec. 2017, www.thesun.co.uk/news/5115368/the-top-secret-cia-experiment-behind-stranger-things-and-new-netflix-drama-wormwood/.

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. Neuroculture . MACMILLAN , 2009.

Jung, C. G., et al. Modern Man in Search of a Soul. Martino Fine Books, 2017.

uconlineprogram. “Neuroscience-pt1.Mov.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2012, Length, 14:07.www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzXjNbKDkYI.

uconlineprogram. “Neuroscience pt3.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 May 2012, Length, 15:30. www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E5EX75xoBJ0.

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt1. YouTube, YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013, Length 15:04.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.

Uconlineprogram. Medicine pt1. YouTube. April 21, 2012. Length 12:58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0M2bOM9Tk

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt1. YouTube, YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013, Length 15:04.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.

warnervod. “Inception - Trailer.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Apr. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3A3-zSOBT4.

Ziskin, Laura, and W. D. Richter. Stealth.

Event Blog #2

            

Background information on Ciemence Pinel

The event that I attended was a presentation titled, “The Environment in Epigenetics Enabling research Entrepreneurship” by Ciémence Pinel a doctoral student who was researching the effects and processes of research funding and collaboration in the laboratory setting. At first, I was a bit intimidated due to the fact that the conference room was only big enough to sit 20 people and there was over 30 DESMA students who had showed up for the presentation. They weren’t expecting so many people to show up to the event. Once the whole situation was figured out, the presentation began. At first, I was a bit confused as to the whole idea and research results being discussed. After she stated her main conclusion which was that researchers are entrepreneurs, it all made sense. The reason for conducting this study was to show how many research labs work together with various other labs in order to maximize their profits from the research. (Pinel, 5/9/2018).  She conducted an ethnographic study which consisted of two laboratories which were labeled lab A and B.  Lab A main focus was Breast Cancer research and Lab B main focus was Computational Biology (Pinel. 5/9/2018). 

Comparison between Lab A and B

Despite these labs having completely different areas of study, they both shared data when it was needed to help in their research. This experiment reminded me of the last event I attended with Dr. Navon and how he used other people’s research as samples and a way to see correlations within his mutation organization groups. (Navon, 4/13/2018). Another thing that stood out to me from the presentation was that, researchers have three main characteristics which are, profitability, mobility, and versatility. Researchers like entrepreneurs have these characteristics in order to maximize their money, time, and outcome/results. 

One thing that really stood out and connected with the class concepts was the concept of robots used in the medical field and research (Robotics pt1). In some of the pictures, during her presentation there were robots being used in the research labs helping researchers during their studies. This field of robots being used in many medical/scientific environments is becoming more common now in days. After attending this presentation, it opened my eyes and gave me new ideas to be able to add to my final project. Since my midterm proposal was related to robots within the medical field, I will be able to add onto my proposal allowing me to make my final much more supportive having great examples of robots in the laboratory setting. I definitely would have recommended this event for my fellow classmates due to the fact the research conducted was different from regular research studies in science. This research was qualitative and was focused more around peoples thought not statistics. It gave a different perspective into medical research. All and all I really enjoyed this presentation. It gave a variety of perspective which all related to the same field and at the same time also gave me ideas for my final project.

My DESMA9 classmates and I 

References 

Uconlineprogram. Robotics pt1. YouTube. April 15, 2012. Length. 14:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew

NAVON, Daniel PhD. “The gene didn’t get the memo”. The Social Genome Knowledge & Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 13 April 2018, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, room 1101, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation

Pinel Ciémence. “The Environment in Epigenetics Enabling research Entrepreneurship” The Social Genome Knowledge & Politics in a Postgenomic Society, 9 May 2018, Life Sciences Building room 3314, Los Angeles, CA. Presentation. 

Week 6 Blog 

            

 This week we read, “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?” by Kelty, Chris. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications” by Levy, Ellen K. and we watched a variety of videos which are related to the controversial topic about artists entering laboratories and using genes mutations as art. In the reading by Kelty, he states the difference between outlaws, hackers, and Victorian gentleman scientists. What all of these people have in common is that fact that they are all portrayed negatively. The group that most relates to artists in the lab is Victorian gentleman scientists due to the fact they are above the system, just how artists were able to enter the lab, a place only scientists were able to before. 

Artists in Lab setting
      www.otis.edu/la-summer-residency/facilities.

In the article by Levy, she states “The composite of our cellular origins is an important part of our evolution of microorganisms and life’s lineages” (pg.1) I found this interesting because it argues that artist should not be in the labs due to the fact they are working with genes that can lead to a genetic mutation which can have a negative effect. Mutations change the cellular origins and life lineages to something completely new and unable to recognize. For example, like artist Eduardo Kac's and his fluorescent bunny named ALBA (5 Bioart pt1). With using genes from a florescent jellyfish and injecting them into the albino bunny, he completely changed the bunny’s genetic makeup and changed its life lineage making it unrecognizable. 

ALBA
“Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac.”

After this art piece, SYMBIOTIC began which was a place both artists and scientists could work together in a lab. (5 Bioart pt2).  In my opinion, I believe that artists should not be allowed to work with genes. It is a very risky working with genes and genetic mutations. Artists never think about the outcomes or accidents. Just like when Marta de Menezes created the butterfly with holes in its wings. (5 Bioart pt2). It is animal cruelty. Artist in labs even go against human rights like ORLAN with her art piece of the human skin blanket in a variety of colors. (5 Bioart pt4). I believe this art should not be allowed due to the fact they are not experienced enough to be working with such delict material never the less to use it as a form of art. Scientist work with genes for medical benefits, but artist only use it for fun.

            

Skin Blanket
ORLAN AAKA ORLAN

Refences

“Facilities.” Otis College of Art and Design, www.otis.edu/la-summer-residency/facilities.

Kelty, Chris. “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?”

Levy, Ellen K. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.”

ORLAN AAKA ORLAN | Exhibition | Prometeo Gallery | by Ida Pisani, www.prometeogallery.com/en/mostra/orlan-aaka-orlan.

 “Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac.” GNN - Genome News Network, www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/03_02/bunny_art.shtml.

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt1. YouTube, YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013, Length 15:04.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt2. YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2012, Length 5:59. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I&t=3s.

uconlineprogram. 5 Bioart pt4. YouTube, YouTube, 17 May 2012, Length 5:47. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI.