Microbial art

Beach scene with bacterial strains expressing different kinds of fluorescent protein

Microbial art[1] or germ art[2] is art created by culturing microorganisms in certain patterns.[3] Agar plates are used as a canvas, while pigmented or fluorescent bacteria and yeasts represent the paint. In order to preserve a piece of microbial art after a sufficient incubation, the microbe culture is sealed with epoxy.[4] A technique called "bacteriography" involves selectively killing certain areas of a bacterial culture with radiation, in order to produce artistic patterns. After incubation, the culture is sealed with acrylic.[5]

Alexander Fleming, the man most commonly credited with the discovery of penicillin, was known for creating germ paintings.[2]

Agar Art Competition

The American Society for Microbiology hosts an annual contest for microbial art: Agar Art. [4] The 2015 edition covered 85 submissions, of which Neurons[6] won first place.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Torrice, Michael, ed. (6 November 2009). "Petri Dish Artists" (pdf). Science (AAAS) 326 (5954): 777. doi:10.1126/science.326_777b. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Painting-With-Penicillin-Alexander-Flemings-Germ-Art.html
  3. ↑ McGuinness, Ross (3 May 2010). "Putting art under the microscope". Metro. Associated Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Palermo, Elizabeth (22 October 2015). "Microbe Masterpieces: Scientists Create Cool Art from Bacteria". Live Science. Purch. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Mole, Beth Marie (19 October 2012). "Bacteriography". The Scientist. LabX Media Group. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.microbeworld.org/component/jlibrary/?view=article&id=14215
  7. ↑ "Announcing the 2015 ASM Agar Art Winners". MicrobeWORLD. American Society for Microbiology. 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
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