Transgenic Embryo Implantation Excerpts from The Life Cycle of The Programmed Mouse, an Art and Biology Residency in an Experimental Animal Production and Research Facility

Abstract

This is an excerpt from a record of a bioart residency in the transgenic mouse production facility at i3S, University Porto, Porto, Portugal, EU 2022: Art/sci research-creation, field notes and bioart from the i3S transgenic mouse production facility. The transgenic mouse production facility at i3S is an animal facility that breeds specific transgenic mutants for lab research. This means that the mice are genetically modified and bred to produce stable litters of similarly mutant pups. In other words, the mice are genetically modified in such a way that their offspring are altered in a specific hereditary and multigenerational way.

Covering the life cycle of the programmed mouse, we asked for hands-on experience as much as possible and learned through doing/witnessing: mouse sperm/egg collection, cryopreservation, fertilization, embryo mutagenic microinjection, implantation of embryos in a pseudopregnant surrogate, embryo dissection for tissue culture, surgery, breeding, and euthanasia. Delving into software studies, there was an exploration of CRISPR/vector design apps and transgenic animal facility management apps. We also accessed global networks for stable pedigree proof of genomic standardization as well as animal care and use in the transgenic core. Learning that the mice were often disease models, created to infect with live contagious diseases or inborn with developmental disabilities (degenerative enhancements), we arranged for some animal enrichment arts. Learning of the often-difficult life of scientists and graduate students, we also took the time to enrich the scientists with an action painting to live music enrichment lab. This form of in depth and experiential research is an advanced version of medical anthropology or science technology studies field working with subjective, literary, informed, morbid, and humorous artistic outcomes.