biofutures: owning body parts & information

The three men who are credited with the discovery of GFP, Roger Y. Tsien of UC San Diego, Martin Chalfie of Columbia University and researcher Osamu Shimomura, have been awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

GFP, which stands for green fluorescent protein, is being used to trace molecule paths as they go through living organisms. GFP was used in 2000 to create Eduardo Kac’s art piece Alba the glowing rabbit.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/09/science/sci-nobel9

Complete Genomics, a new biotech company set to open second quarter 2009 has announced they will be able to completely map a client’s genetic blueprint for $5,000. According to the article in the New York Times, the current price is around $100,000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/business/06gene.html?hp

Paul Vanouse’s bioart exhibit, Latent Figure Protocol, uses plasmid DNA that is manipulated with various “enzymes, chemicals, probes, gels, and voltage” to create art.

http://artvoice.com/issues/v7n41/trans-evolution_at_CEPA