Since reading the Economist special section on the mapping of the human genome, I have been obsessed with the thought of being made up of code. I don’t see it as a boring letter and numbered code—not that this is boring at all, just not something I can comprehend easily—but more of a combination of characters forming eccentric patterns.
I wasn’t sure where to start with this research, not being from a science background really, so I picked up a book I knew was a must read for anyone interested in knowing anything about biology—Charles Darwin’s the Origin of Species. Darwin’s reflections on the causes of variability within species bring to mind a whole slew of diverse life forms and how they have developed for survival.
Over the past few weeks I have been hesitant to jump too deeply into this subject for fear of getting involved in something more complex than I could handle. But, a post written by on the Design Observer reminded me design and science may not be too far apart.
In an attempt to try and understand better how exactly scientists are mapping genomes of species I dug around and found this map of the genetic code of an American Mink from the Laboratory of Developmental Genetics at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Russia.
I found the patterns and colors inspiring, and although I’m still trying to figure out exactly what it all means, I played around with it anyway.
I thought if I could visualize the map as the mink, than I would be able to deconstruct in and have a better understanding of it.
Post a Comment