Biotech + Art Week 6 Blog

Before starting this week's lecture, I had very to little knowledge of biotechnology and what it entailed. Being the extreme animal lover I am, I immediately took an interest to discover how animals were used in this field of science. As I began researching and learning about how animals were used in medical experiments, art, and technology; I was informed on several benefits that can come from animal biotechnology, but several negatives that come along as well. Animal testing is a very controversial topic in today's society, and it was interesting to learn more about the pros and cons, and ultimately shaped my opinion on this matter.

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/groups/large-animal-biotechnology/index.aspx

I started by watching the very informative video Animal Biotechnology, and learned about some benefits of biotechnology within animals. For instance, artificial insemination is used to improve the genetics of farm animals. One of the main benefits of artificial insemination is that the use of one semen collection can be dispersed and spread into several females instead of just one, so it creates a greater efficiency.

https://www.afimilk.com/afiblog/cow-insemination-how-does-it-work

Where I feel that Biotechnology with animals gets very controversial is when animals are used in experimental lab testing. For example, several cosmetic companies use animals in toxicity testing to assess whether their products and ingredients are safe to sell to consumers. These animals, such as rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc., go through all sorts of tests like having chemicals put down their throats, placed into their eyes, or directly onto their skin at extremely high doses to see if the product causes any irritation or negative reactions. Unfortunately, in these labs, there is no pain relief of any sort if an animal reacts badly to the chemicals administered. Lastly, the International Humane Society reports that approximately 100,000-200,000 animals suffer or die from the testing of these cosmetics every year.

https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/cosmetic-household-products-animal-testing/

Another experiment I question is Eduardo Kac's "genetic art" biotechnology bunny Alba. Kac genetically engineered a new species by injected green fluorescent protein from the Aequorea Victoria jellyfish into an albino rabbit's fertilized egg, and once the bunny was born, it would glow a green color when it was in a certain light.

http://scribol.com/science/biology/what-became-of-the-glowing-green-bunny/

Although Kac said there was no harm to the bunny in this experiment, was it really worth the risk of killing another innocent animal in lab testing as a creation of art? I believe Biotechnology with animals can be beneficial if used in the right way, but if there is danger in harming these animals I believe it is cruel and unethical.

Sources:

“Cosmetics Testing on Animals.” National Anti-Vivisection Society, www.navs.org/the-issues/animals-used-in-cosmetics-testing/#.XNTKy-tKjOQ.

“About Cosmetics Animal Testing.” Humane Society International, 3 May 2019, www.hsi.org/news-media/about_cosmetics_animal_testing/.

Online, UC. “5 Bioart pt1 1280x720.” YouTube, YouTube, 18 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.

(UCTV), University of California Television. “Animal Biotechnology.” YouTube, YouTube, 25 July 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCIvAuwaf-o.


GFP BUNNY, www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor.