Mind thGAP: the Transgenic Human Genome Alternatives Project (thGAP): Open Source Bioinformatics for Human Gene Editing will be presenting at the Society for Science, Literature and the Arts Conference. This presentation will include:
Adam Zaretsky (NADLinc, United States)
Paula Pin (researcher and artist activist, Spain)
Praba Pilar (The Hindsite Institute and Larval Rock Stars, United States)
Cristian Delgado (Nehemeni Labs, Mexico)
Marc Dusseiller (Hackteria, Switzerland)
Mind thGAP was a series of workshops held in online and on-ground spaces over May and June of 2021. The Transgenic Human Genome Alternatives Project (thGAP) presented the Generic Open-Source Plasmid for Human Arts (GOSPHA) which in tern asked public participants to build a Creative Germline Constructs Bank (CGCB). This hybrid experiment in public understanding of Bioinformatics, Germline Human Engineering and Artistic Practice was a part of the ReproTech & Arts / Germline Hacks and Designer Babies Program at Hackteria ZET – Open Science Lab of Zürich. Adam Zaretsky, Cristian Delgado, Paula Pin, Marc Dusseiller and Praba Pilar joined with representatives of psyFert, the Bioart Ethical Advisory Kommission (BEAK) and all of our participants to form the World Congress on New Reproductive Technology Arts.
The Labs were about artistic research on genetic modification of future humans including: How to read scientific papers for artists, amateur gene hunting and interpreting introduction to GENBANK, FASTA and SCIHUB, DIY-Bioinformatics and novel design issues CRISPR baby construct production. We also focused on the prophetic power of Science Fiction, gave public understanding of the technology in terms of legal, social, ethical and libidinal issues (LESLI) of Germline Human Gene Editing.
Through Citizen Science we all explored: How to unwork a contract, How to Bioart Criticism of Transgenic Humans and How to Build a GOSHPA to introduce your gene of choice into a Time Based, Ephemeral Sculptures/New Media, Multigenerational/Live Art DIY-Bioart Installation. The CGCB is a public resource that continues to grow to offer open source, semi-conceptual, EvoDevo human embryo and live young ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) through the proliferation of non-normative infectious genetic constructs for multigenerational mutagenic alterity. The intention of these labs is to have a queering effect on on the biodiverse possibilities of future transgenic human mutants and to give interested people insight into the technics, ethics and aesthetics behind the renovation of the species commons now underway.
More information at hackteria.