[Catalyst 2018]

SCI-FI
TO
d.i.y. :
Kac created Alba’s
glow through a feat of
genetic engineering:
synthetic mutation of
the green fluorescent
protein (GFP) gene
from the jellyfish type
Aequorea victoria
Genetic engineering is an area of
science that never fails to intrigue
people, mainly because the field
seems like something directly
out of a sci-fi flick or a superhero comic.
Although the practice has been around
since the 1970s, the intricacy involved in
genetic engineering has recently made a
splashing impact in the world of science
and technology, as well as in our daily lives.
Through the mediums of bio-art, biohacking,
human genetic engineering, and GMOs,
genetic engineering is paving its way towards
becoming a staple within our culture, and we
may not be far from a world where this “scifi”
becomes a scientific standard.
In order to trace the history of genetic
engineering, we must examine its origins:
GMOs. GMO stands for genetically modified
organisms, and they are commonly seen in
the form of produce at local supermarkets
or in angry online posts lamenting about the
downfall of health standards. These GMOs
were created by removing DNA from one
plant and inserting it into a separate plant,
giving rise to new abilities, such as herbicide
tolerance and self-sustaining insecticide.
Despite its polarizing connotation, GMOs
are relevant to industry and to our own
consumption, as much of purchased
produce, including corn, soybeans, cotton,
are genetically modified. 1
GMOs can prove to be beneficial for
generations to come, as seen in a study
at the University of Washington, where
researchers have been working since the
early ‘90s to develop poplar plants that
can clean up pollutants found in both the
ground and the air. 2,3 Their genetically
engineered poplar plants can take in 91% of
trichloroethylene, which is the most common
groundwater contaminant in the U.S.. 2,3
In Japan, another team of researchers
is working with Mammalian cytochrome
P450, which is a gene found in mammal
livers. They are implementing this gene into
rice plants, allowing them to degrade and
detoxify herbicides. 2 A detoxifying poplar
and rice plants provides evidence of the use
of genetic engineering in creating GMOs for
the environmentalist movement, yielding an
interesting solution to a pressing issue.
Moving beyond studying plants, genetic
engineers began to experiment on animals.
Though this move sparked controversy in
the scientific community, researchers were
able to create unique organisms in a new
artistic field known as Bio-Art. Brazilian artist
Eduardo Kac sparked the movement of Bio-
Art, a new brand of innovation that combines
the skills of scientists and engineers with
the creativity of artists. Kac rose to fame
due to his project “Alba,” a bunny that glows
green in the dark. 5 Collaborating with a team
of scientists in France, Kac created Alba’s
glow through a feat of genetic engineering:
synthetic mutation of the green fluorescent
protein (GFP) gene from the jellyfish type
Aequorea victoria. 4,5 In Aequorea victoria, a
protein releases a blue light when it bonds
with calcium. 4 The GFP gene then absorbs
this blue light, and green light is emitted. 4
An enhanced version of the GFP gene was
inserted into Alba, amplifying fluorescence in
mammalian cells. 5 Alba and other transgenic
animals provoke feelings of astonishment,
indignation, and curiosity, and it will be
interesting to see what technology the world
of bio-art will embrace next.
Along with being an integral part of the
Bio-Art movement, genetic engineering was
also used in more environmental studies,
such as with the invention of Enviropigs in
Canada. 6 As with all living organisms, pigs
require phosphorus in their food, but have
4 | CATALYST