BioArt Project Overview By Morgan Chandler My original idea was to focus my BioArt project on genetic mapping, which is one

of my favorite topics in biology. I am fascinated by the fact that a tiny change in a chromosome can have so great an impact. As it turns out, my idea coincided quite nicely with the mitosis, meiosis, and patterns of inheritance chapters we are currently studying [and have a test on next week] in class. While working on my project, I was able to create a visual aid for myself so that I am no longer confused by terms such as sister chromatids. My original plan was to create a pair of homologous chromosomes that were in the process of crossing over out of papier-mch. I wanted to make them in a piata-like fashion in the spirit of random chance similar to the random way in which crossing over occurs. My art piece is still a work in progress, but it is coming along quite nicely, I think. I am currently using a mixture of flour and hot water to create a plaster that I am using to build the chromosome shapes. I have construction paper cut into strips that I roll up and dip into the plaster. Then, I take more strips, decoupage over and over it, and wait for it to dry before applying more length to the chromosome. Ive finished one chromosome, but its still in pieces and needs to be assembled. When I was working on it this weekend, I was concerned because the plaster was taking a ridiculously long time to dry. I tried waiting a few hours, using a hair dryer, and finally even baking the papier-mch chromosome pieces in the oven. I was afraid the paper would catch on fire, but it didnt. In fact, despite leaving the papier-mch in the oven for fifteen minutes at 400F, when I took it out, it was still wet. At this point, I just decided to wait it out and see if it would ever dry or if I would need to start over using a different flour to water ratio or perhaps just glue as an adhesive. When I awoke on Monday morning, I checked the chromosome pieces and was astounded to find that they were as hard as a rock. I can now knock

on them and they sound like I am knocking on wood. Im pleased that the chromosomes will be made out of something so sturdy because I really wanted them to be able to maintain a hollow shape to go along with the piata them. With such a rigid structure, I am certain that they will be very strong, perhaps even enough to hold up a person. The purpose of me making these chromosomes is to depict the crossing over that occurs between homologous chromosomes in Prophase I of meiosis. Crossing over makes for genetic variation in individuals. One chromosome, which will be a shade of blue, originated from the father and another one, which will be a shade of pink, originated from the mother. By crossing over and recombining, they create the potential genetic makeup of the offspring. I will make the papier-mch chromosomes into piatas by adding stripes of tissue paper in a traditional piataesque fashion. Most stripes will be for the identification of the chromosome (ex. Blue or pink), but I plan to highlight at least one gene on each to show how it is being transferred in the cross. So far from the assignment, Ive gained a refresher course on how to make papier-mch and also a reminder that patience is a virtue. But in the subject of biology, Ive gained a useful visual aid that will definitely be an advantage to me on the exam next week. Im a kinesthetic learner and find that doing projects like this really help me to get the material down effectively. Making chromosomes has allowed me to get a better feel on their parts (ex. Kinetochores, sister chromatids, centromeres, chiasmata, etc.)