genetics – Radical Atoms https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/en Ars Electronica Festival 2016 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 13:26:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6 (Im)possible Baby, Case 01: Asako & Moriga https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/en/impossible-baby/ Mon, 01 Aug 2016 12:27:38 +0000 https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/?p=2193 Ai Hasegawa
The future of procreation? (Im)possible Baby develops possible family scenarios using the DNA of same-sex couples.]]>
Ai Hasegawa

After taking genetic information from a same-sex couple to generate DNA data for the children they might have together, the results were used to produce “family photographs.” Though a same-sex couple cannot conceive a child using current technology, based on the genetic information it is possible to predict what kind of baby they would have. After obtaining the couple’s DNA data from a genetic analysis service called “23andMe” and uploading it to the (Im)possible Baby Simulator, the program randomly generated genetic profiles for their children. With advances in stem-cell research, having children may no longer be a fantasy for same-sex couples. Even if it becomes technically possible, there are ethical issues that must be addressed before the procedure can actually be used. Who is qualified to decide whether such a procedure is right or wrong? The work explores how art can provide people with an opportunity to participate in decision-making processes that are related to scientific technology.

Credit: © Ai Hasegawa

Supported by MIT Media Lab Design Fiction Group

Japan Media Arts Festival

]]>