Brainbow

Figure 1

In 2007 the world changed. In a research laboratory someone in the state of Masachussets, Harvard scientists devised a way to color mouse neurons to help them trace the neuron’s long and intricate arms. Their results became what is now known as the Brainbow effect.

With the help of at least 3 different fluorescent proteins, scientists were able to paint neurons in a variety of different colors making the tracing of neurons much simpler. This tracing has helped the phenomena known as brain mapping.

Figure 2

Earlier this year, in his state of the union address, President Obama talked about the importance of the mapping of the brain. Brainbow, has significantly helped the progress of brain mapping but there are those that oppose it.

Figure 3

Just as the controversy the Human Genome Project received, brain mapping has created disputes between scientists because of the involvement of the government. Some scientists believe structuring and in a way limiting the way scientists work in order to gain results is counter-productive.

This idea of how scientists should work is very interesting since it relates directly to artists. In many ways, Brainbow has opened the door to a discussion on how scientists should be allowed to work. Scientists like artists want to be free of the chains an institutionalized world forces them to work in. Scientists, like artists want to have their own creative control.

Resources

"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Harvard University. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

Hayman, John. "Art and Neurosciene." queens.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford , Oxford UK, n.d. Web. 18 Nov 2013. <http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/academics/hyman/files/art_and_neuroscience.pdf>.

Greenwood, Veronique. Fly Over the 'Brainbow'. 2011. Photograph. MIT Technology ReviewWeb. 18 Nov 2013. <http://www.technologyreview.com/photogallery/423111/fly-over-the-brainbow/>.

NPR STAFF. "Somewhere Over The Brainbow: The Journey To Map the Human Brain." NPR. 31 Mar 2013: n. page. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/2013/03/31/175858397/somewhere-over-the-brainbow-the-journey-to-map-the-human-brain>.

Reueller, Peter. “‘Brainbow,’ version 2.0.” Harvard Gazette. 15 May 2013 Harvard University. Web. 18 Nov. 2013 <http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/05/brainbow-version-2-0/>

Images

Fig 1 < http://www.technologyreview.com/photogallery/423111/fly-over-the-brainbow/>

Fig 2 < http://www.npr.org/2013/03/31/175858397/somewhere-over-the-brainbow-the-journey-to-map-the-human-brain>

Fig 3 <http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/05/brainbow-version-2-0/>