DNA, Glass, Ethanol
Size Variable
去氧核糖核酸,玻璃,乙醇
呎吋可變
2021
Process of Extracting DNA (Click here for a further information)
DNA萃取原理及過程(點擊了解更多資訊)
What we need :
. Human saliva
. 5ml washing-up liquid
. 50ml Distilled water
. 5g NaCl
. 0.5gNaHCO3
. 10ml >90% cold CH3CH2OH
Step 1. Breaking cells open to release the DNA
The cells in a sample are separated from each other, often by a physical means such as grinding or vertexing, and put into a solution containing salt. The positively charged sodium ions in the salt help protect the negatively charged phosphate groups that run along the backbone of the DNA.
Step 2. Separating DNA from proteins and other cellular debris
To get a clean sample of DNA, it’s necessary to remove as much of the cellular debris as possible. This can be done by a variety of methods. Often a protease ( protein enzyme) is added to degrade DNA-associated proteins and other cellular proteins. Alternatively, some of the cellular debris can be removed by filtering the sample.
Step 3. Precipitating the DNA with an alcohol
Finally, ice-cold alcohol (either ethanol or isopropanol) is carefully added to the DNA sample. DNA is soluble in water but insoluble in the presence of salt and alcohol. By gently stirring the alcohol layer with a sterile pipette, a precipitate becomes visible and can be spooled out. If there is lots of DNA, you may see a stringy, white precipitate.
Step 4. Cleaning the DNA
The DNA sample can now be further purified (cleaned). It is then resuspended in a slightly alkaline buffer and ready to use.
Step 5. Confirming the presence and quality of the DNA
For further lab work, it is important to know the concentration and quality of the DNA.
*Once extracted, DNA can be used for molecular analyses including PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, fingerprinting and cloning.
In my artwork, I extracted my own DNA using biological and chemical techniques, and created small flasks filled with the code of my own life. I sent some of my "Life Seeds" to different locations around the world and buried them in the soil. In this way, I left a part of myself (DNA) all over the world. This work imitates the process of plants gestating life by planting a fruitless code of life. Descartes believed that the act of doubting one's own existence served as proof of the reality of one's own mind. Therefore, there must be a thinking entity—the self—for there to be a thought.
This artwork is designed to send these "Life Seeds" to 11 cities that will eventually be submerged underwater, burying those genes in the local soil. For those cities that will be flooded, my biological code will be buried at the bottom of the earth with those "Life Seeds." Descartes explained, "I think, therefore I am." The existence of "I" is inferred from the fact that I think. These "seeds" that record the password of my life are proof of my existence in the world, preserving my traces through the mud of all parts of the world and pondering the question of "why I am myself."
A tiny gene contains all the codes of life that the universe (or the so-called creator) has created for us. Whether it is a single-celled organism or a seed, or a human being who ponders the origin of the universe, all the characteristics of life are determined by this small double-stranded helix structure biological macromolecule.
The DNA of all living things is very similar. For instance, humans and chimpanzees, who share the closest evolutionary ancestry, have nearly 99% of the same DNA sequence. The differences in DNA sequence between individuals of the same species are even smaller. Each species has a unique code of life that is similar but distinct. Therefore, I wonder why I am "myself."
一個小小的基因包含了宇宙(或所謂的造物主)為我們創造的所有生命密碼。 在人類已知的宇宙中,小到一個單細胞生物或一顆種子,大到一個追問宇宙起源的人類,生命的一切特徵都是由這個小小的雙鏈螺旋結構的生物大分子決定的。
而所有生物的 DNA 實際上都非常接近,例如具有最接近進化血統的人類和黑猩猩具有近 99% 的相同 DNA 序列,而同種人之間的 DNA 序列的差異甚 至更小。然而每個物種組成的生命密碼都有這樣的相似卻又獨一無二,這令我提出一個疑問,我想探究「為什麼我會是“我”」。
在作品中,我使用生物和化學的技術萃取了自己的 DNA,並製作一個個裝滿自己「生命密碼」的小燒瓶。稱為屬於我自己的「生命種子」。作品志在把 「我」的一部分「生命種子」寄送到世界不同的地方,並長埋在不同地方的土壤裡,把我的「生命密碼」留下並遍布世界各地。
作品構思以模仿孕育植物生命的方式,種植出沒有結果的生命密碼。正如笛卡爾斷言:「在懷疑自己存在的行為本身,至少是作為一個人自己思想的真實性的證明;必須有一個有思想 的實體,才能在這種情況下成為自我,一切都皆因思考。」
這件藝術品計劃將那些「生命種子」送到未來將沉沒的 11 座城市,並將那些基因埋在當地的土壤中。對於那些將要被洪水淹沒的城市,那些帶有我生物密碼的「生命種子」將長被埋在地球的底部。笛卡爾解釋「我思故我在」:「“我” 的存在是從我思的事實推導出來的。」 那些記錄著我生命密碼的「種子」,是 證明我存在於世上的痕跡,世界各地的泥濘中保留我的痕跡,是我以行為及觀念以思考「為什麼我是我自己」的創作。