2020/12/22 by Katy Connor, Maria Fannin, Julie Kent +1 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Race, Genetics, and Society
paper · doi:10.1080/03080188.2020.1855377
openalex publication_date 2020/12/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
This paper reflects on collaboration between an artist, a scientist, and two social scientists involved in research on cultured red blood cells. Cell culture is part of a suite of methods used by bioscientists to study cellular processes outside of the living organism. The production of laboratory-grown blood is at the cutting-edge of cell culture and regenerative medicine, with hopes for significant therapeutic benefit in the future, particularly for patients with rare blood types or with conditions that require frequent blood transfusions. We reflect on our collaboration and on artistic experimentation with spatial dimensions of cells and scaffolds used in red blood cell culture, highlighting our efforts to generate knowledge that cuts across our respective disciplinary locations. We situate our work together in the context of the increasing molecularization of the body in science and medicine, and on the efforts to ‘open up’ scientific practice to multiple publics.