Art, Science + Technology
DMA9 Fall 2007, Section BArchive for October 26, 2007
Week 4 – Biotechnology – By Nathan Hsu
Is it moral to produce transgenic animals?
Given the advanced technology, “Playing God” no longer seems so improbable. From the discovery of microscope that uncovered the unseen dimensions of organisms to the innovative methods of altering genomes, the paradigm of biology has definitely shifted toward another level. With the present advancement in biotechnology, humans now are capable of decoding the DNA as well as modifying it – it is possible to create a chimera, an ancient mythological creature with a combination of characteristics of multiple animals. As exciting as it may seem, it is also frightening – Do we have the right to freely transform in the livings whatever that we deem unfit, while attempting to counter what the evolution has chosen? What will happen, then, if we attempt to make fearsome creations that never mean to exist? These questions make us ponder. There are two possible ways: the scientists, applying the biotechnological knowledge, find solutions for originally cureless diseases and benefit the society. Or, on the other hand, they, with the power to play God, create dreadful organisms which result in endangering the entire species on Earth. Let’s hope that the latter will never happen.
What influence has the advancing biotechnology on Art?
Arguably, the fluorescent rabbit is a work of art. Because the definition for Arts is so broad and boundless, it seems anything could apply to the Artistic Realm. In the presentation on Monday, I was astounded to see how common transgenic animals are in the science field and how few people actually know about it. However, when one case was censored, the whole public seems to be more interested than ever. The boundary between art and science reveal much gray area on the topic of biotechnology. In a way, the production of transgenic animals redefines art; it makes the impossible possible. Such influence will only intensify and become more overwhelming.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotechnology
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/what_is_biotechnology.html
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/T/TransgenicAnimals.html
W4: AI, Biology and Networks
At what point is a computer considered to possess artificial intelligence? The American Heritage New Dictionary states that AI is “The means of duplicating or imitating intelligence in computers, robots, or other devices, which allows them to solve problems, discriminate among objects, and respond to voice commands.” However, although this definition is accurate, I feel that a final, vital component (which this definition, at least from my point of view, lacks) is creativity. You could argue that creativity is part of “solving problems” but I feel that such a higher mental process deserves its own category.
The day that computers attain creativity (probably through some complex computer algorithm, created by some ‘Einstein-like’ genius), at a level equivalent to that of a human being, will be one of a grand paradigm shift. In the present, people tend to separate themselves from other beings such as animals and computers by their intelligence. Our intelligence is our pride. However, when AI becomes nearly identical to human intelligence, people will start to question what makes them different, more special. I feel that either one of three things happen. Either we all get along famously, we eradicate the human-like level of AI in order to keep our superior status, or the computers overrun and kill people … like in the movies Terminator, Matrix, I Robot, etc.
—Spoiler Alert— for Half-Life Portal
Besides movies, another example of where a computer goes completely crazy and starts killing … or better yet, playing with humans is in the computer game Half-Life Portal. The computer becomes very creative in its attempt to ‘exterminate’ you. Suffice to say, the ending song is disturbing and suggests that computers have emotions, frustrations, etc. On a side note, this game is art. I can’t even begin to imagine how they created the engine/system for the portals. It’s truly a masterpiece.
Youtube Video of Portal
Regarding networks, its interesting how biology and computer networks are related. Biological networks were the basis for computer networks. Each aspect of a biological network (ecosystem) works together to support the entire structure. This design was used as a blueprint for computer networks. However, computers have also been influential on psychology, which is, in a sense, a type of biology (at least according to UCLA, since psychology is a life-science instead of social science here). For example, thanks to the computer/calculator/etc, psychologists moved away from traditional behaviorism and towards the learning perspective which incorporates higher mental processes in their explanation for behavior.
Art, Science + Technology 