THE ART OF LIVING SYSTEMS

ASTROBIONICS | TISSUE | ENGINEERING | CULTURING

Academic Research | Workshops | Professional Visits
Astrobionics, Life Sciences, Advanced Life Support & Centrifuge | NASA Ames Research Center | California US 2006
Live Telesurgery Laparascopy | European Institute of Telesurgery (EITS) | France 2006
Medical & Astrobiology | Louis Pasteur Institute | France 2006
Neurovestibular/Neurolabs, Orthostatic Hypotension, Musuloskeletal EVA Workshops | International Space University | France 2006
Genetic engineering workshop for artists | SymbioticA | Australia 2006
Tissue engineering workshop for artists | SymbioticA | Australia 2006
Lifeboat SS Invik | Riks Utstillinger | Olso, Norway 2004
Lifeboat: Tissue Culture & Art | SymbioticA | Australia 2004



L-R: Meet the Surgeon (Remote operated robot) & Patient (Miss Piggy), ISU SSP06 LS Professional Visit: European Institute of Telesurgery (EITS) Strasbourg, France 2006


Genetic engineering workshop for artists | May 2006

Dr. Gary Cass
SymbioticA – the art & science laboratory
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science | University of Western Australia

pBAD-GFP E Coli

Genetic Engineering by inserting GFP modified genes into e CColi K12 taken from the seajelly Aequorea Victoria.

This attractive species of seajelly has a particular protein which floresces green when exposed to ultraviolet light hence the abreviated name: green florescent protein GFP. The striking visual properties of the GFP make it attractive to scientists (and artists) who frequently insert the protein in small cells samples to visually detect data, and track changes in data, of specific cell types in vitro.

L-R: Pell at Genetic Engineering Workshop for Artists by Dr. Gary Cass, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, University of Western Australia. Photographs Shawn Bailey & Jennifer Willet a.k.a. Bioteknica 2006

Restricted Mapping of pBAD-GFP Gel Electrophonesis

More to come!

Tissue engineering workshop for artists | Jan | 2006 Dr. Stuart Hodgetts | Oron Catts | Ionat Zurr SymbioticA – the art & science laboratory School of Anatomy & Human Biology | University of Western Australia Tissue culture and tissue engineering represent a new area for artistic engagement. These branches of biomedical research have a major influence on perceptions of body, self and medical thinking. Tissue engineering enable researchers to grow three dimensional living tissues constructs of varying sizes, shapes and tissue types. This two-day intensive workshop will introduce artists and other interested people to basic principals of animal tissue culture and tissue engineering, as well as to its history and the different artistic projects working with TC and TE. Workshop leaders: Both Dr. Stuart Hodgetts and Oron Catts have extensive lab experience working as researchers in laboratories in North-America, Europe and Australia. They are both experienced in demonstrating and teaching tissue culture and tissue engineering to students from diverse backgrounds (scientist, artists, and general public). Catts worked as a research fellow at the Tissue Engineering and Organ Fabrication Laboratory at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hodgetts worked at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, among other places. Both are now researchers at the School of Anatomy & Human Biology University of Western Australia. Timetable: DAY ONE: Session one: Health and safety in the lab and sterile techniques Session two: Short introduction of tissue culture Session three: Cell line practical Passaging and plating cell-lines. Seeding cells on 3D scaffolds.Session four Scientific and artistic history of Tissue Culture DAY TWO: Session one: Primary cell practical Isolation of primary cells and explants. Seeding cells. Session two: Basics of tissue engineering: Tissue engineering concept and theory. Biomaterials (from ceramics to polymers – issues of porosity) and 3D scaffold design and construction (CAD/CAM). Use of bioreactors. Session three: Tissue engineering practical – making 3D polymer scaffolds Session four: DIY sterile hood using off the shelve items (HEPA air purifiers etc.) Procedures: More detailed protocols will be supplied in later stage. Some of the practical in the workshop will be determined by the availability of cell lines in the host laboratory. As different labs have different approaches to tissue culture protocols and health and safety conduct in the lab, the workshop leaders will develop a protocol with the host laboratory to follow the lab specific guidelines. Following is a brief outline of the lab activities: Cell line practical: Passaging and plating cell-lines (using tripsin, and centrifuge) Seeding cells on 3D scaffolds- applying cell suspension onto 3d pours polymer scaffolds (PGA and P4HB). Primary cell practical: Isolation of primary cells and explants. Using fresh pig lags from butcher – mesenchymal cells (bone marrow cells) using both mechanical and enzymatic digestion. Explants will be obtained from other tissue types. Cells will be seeded onto T-flasks. Tissue engineering practical: making 3D polymer scaffolds- this demonstration will use mockup polymers (papier-mâché and other non toxic material as well as PH4B). using pre-prepared silicon moulds and glucose and NaCl to demonstrate the creation of porous 3D scaffolds. DIY sterile hood: using off the shelve items (HEPA air purifiers etc.)- this practical session should take place in a non scientific space (such as a gallery or artists studio). This will include the construction of a sterile environment using modified air purifiers, fans, and plastic boxes. Risk Management: All biological materials will be treated at PC2 level (although most will be classified as PC1). Participants will first have to go though an Occupational Health and Safety and “safe-science” induction session. The workshop will only work with non-pathogenic cells and will include only low toxicity chemicals and biological agents. All work will be performed according to PC2 guidelines, follow all OGTR regulations and conform with Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. LifeBoat (Catts, Helyer, Pell & Zurr) SymbioticA Tissue Culture Lab, Australia 2004