A Human Genome Research Project: Live DNA Sequencing Lab - a working molecular biology laboratory in action!
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Pronouncing itself as hosting a groundbreaking site for a time-based installation, the ICA theatre had been setup with a series of sequencers, centrifuges, stirrers, shakers, water-baths and all the other jazzy instruments found in a common bio-lab. A couple of scientists with a few volunteer students were preparing a genuine experiment that aimed to do a fingerprint type comparison of regions of sequences in order to find possible gene candidates responsible for specific language impairment (SLI). Many studies have shown that SLI tends to run in families, suggesting that it may involve genetic components and these are what the researchers were trying to identify.
In this world first, the public will be able to see a real lab working on a day-to-day basis, talk to scientists, and take part in the analysis of the results.
Accompanying the exhibition was a series of video interviews on the human genome projects that the audience could take the time a listen to. The lab installation itself Genes Talking aimed to demystify the scientific process and bringing about a better understanding of genetics. The audience were invited to take part in reading the graphical sequences and follow the experiment through the summer evening. Notable, this project was a result of collaboration between science–arts consultant.
The installation was probably aimed as an educational project and felt similar to an open day at a university, passing by a bio-lab. It would, perhaps, have been better if someone took a verbal charge of the event and gave the audience an idea of what was happening. Rather it looked like the audience had a confused reaction with the thermal cycler running as a stove and most of the scientists really not doing much at all. Of course, often a process in experiments is about the wait. This is education not art.