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The marriage of art and science fascinates all science enthusiasts. Art as a medium allows you to visualize and experience the microworld that is hidden from the naked eye. As a trained geneticist and cancer biologist, using stick figures to describe chromosomes and outline diagrams to depict cells and molecular mechanisms is common. But I clearly remember when I first saw Robert Hooke's detailed illustrations of microbes from his book “Micrographia”, from the 17th Century. I was mesmerised. The influence that art can have on our comprehension of the natural world is significant. These works of art culminate in a powerful form of storytelling intertwined with science, art, and history. Have you ever wondered how genetic illnesses have been represented in art throughout history? This article explores the fascinating ways that art has contributed to our understanding of these conditions.
About 10,000 genetic disorders have been identified so far, and every day they are being profiled better with every patient walking into a clinic or hospital. Among these, there are about 7,000 rare disorders. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) classifies a disease or disorder as rare if it affects less than 1 in 2500 individuals in India. India is a hotspot for many rare genetic illnesses because of the size of the population, the level of diversity, and the degree of inbreeding in groups and sub-communities. Although rare, there is still potential for research to be conducted to diagnose and treat these disorders. Don't these patients deserve better? Here is where art or detailed visual documentation of such conditions can make a significant difference.
Artistic representations of genetic illnesses date back to the earliest known cultures. Illustrations of people with what appear to be hereditary disorders, such as dwarfism and albinism, can be found in Egyptian art from around 1550 BCE. These representations imply that prehistoric societies understood and physically portrayed bodily changes or abnormalities. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and tomb paintings show people with deformities, demonstrating the acceptance and acknowledgement of physical abnormalities. Similar to this, achondroplasia was celebrated in classical Greek art, which featured people with the condition. They prove how long people have been enamoured with the variety of the human form and the subtleties of inherited traits.
Image Credit: Gold Reporter
While this archaic evidence suggests the documentation of physical abnormalities, it is unclear, though, if they understood that these changes could be inherited or caused by a genetic condition. One notable interpretation of illustrations from the past could be from the book "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals", published in 1872 by Charles Darwin. In this book, he depicted and described people with physical deformities, some of which could be attributed to genetic illnesses. Darwin cited examples of people with disorders like Down syndrome and microcephaly, a condition where babies are born with significantly smaller heads, to illustrate his claims that emotional expressions in humans and other animals are similar. It's crucial to remember that Darwin's work was completed before contemporary genetics was fully understood, and his observations were made before specific genetic mutations or illnesses were known. However, his documentation of people with physical defects helped to better comprehend human variety and paved the road for upcoming genetics research.
Art can be an effective way to get people interested in talking about genetic illnesses. Art can be used in a variety of contexts to accomplish these goals. Public art and sculptures as conversation starters, performance art and theatre to convey lived experiences, art workshops and art therapy sessions for self-expression and community support, and online platforms for sharing digital art and personal stories are just a few examples.
Explore some of the most creative SciArt projects from across the globe below.
Public Art and Sculptures: Cantor Arts Centre at Stanford University hosted the art exhibit "Inside Rodin's Hands: Art, Technology, and Surgery" from April to August in 2014. The display speculated that medical disorders like Charcot-Marie-Tooth inspired the human traumas and defects represented in Auguste Rodin's sculptures. Medical students at Stanford University utilise the pieces in class to better understand and visualise various medical issues.
Image Credit: Medical Xpress
Performance Art: Two studies examine the effects of genetic counselling and the performing arts. Although the specifics of these impacts and the optimal involvement levels need further examination, the first study, an umbrella review, demonstrates health promotion effects from performing arts such as music and dance. The second study, a pilot inquiry into genetic counselling, indicated that it helped reduce negative emotional responses in people at risk of hereditary disorders like Huntington's Disease, regardless of their prior level of awareness of the condition.
Art Workshops and Art Therapy Sessions: Conducted at a rehabilitation centre in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, this qualitative case study involved three participants aged 8-11. Photos, films, and semi-structured interviews were used to compile data from a five-day art workshop planned on Kolb's experiential learning theory (ELT) paradigm. The results suggest that group art-based activities can improve social skills in children with Down syndrome, leading to a more positive future for these kids in terms of their connections, collaboration abilities, sharing, and self-helping.
Image Credit: Therapy and Wellness Connection
Art exhibitions and auctions: The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society's art auctions and other exhibitions showcasing the works of people with genetic abnormalities are notable examples. Christine Sun Kim, an artist who is deaf, utilizes her work to investigate her relationship with sound and language. The struggles and achievements of dealing with a genetic condition can be clearly portrayed in works of performance art and theatre. In addition, interactive mediums such as digital art and VR experiences welcome all participants.
Image Credit: Timeout
By combining these examples, we can see the universality of using art as a medium to engage people in conversations about genetic illnesses, while highlighting India's unique initiatives and contributions in promoting awareness and fostering support within the country.
These approaches use art in conjunction with education, personal narratives, and community involvement to lessen prejudice against people with genetic illnesses, spark conversation, and increase awareness. They facilitate social interaction by providing forums for people with varying perspectives to be heard.
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