After irradiation. The left side was protected from exposure and the right side irradiated.
After irradiation. The left side was protected from exposure and the right side irradiated.
The healthy culture prior to irrdation
The beautiful yellow slime mould Physarum polycephalum has a simple intelligence and can decide whether life is getting better or worse and move accordingly, solve the shortest route through a maze, and has a memory. I wonder if it can feel pain? I’m not entirely comfortable with this but I’m looking at ways of shaping this microorganism into living and pulsing designs or figures by etching into its sensitive flesh using powerful electromagnetic radiation. Here one half of a healthy culture has been exposed to the radiation and the other not. The effect is quite dramatic to say the least, but is this ethical?
What was the point of irradiating the slime mould?
Hi Sarah
Thanks for this. A number of reasons. To see how it will respond and if we can use the technique to shape its appearance. To explore ethics as these relate to microorganisms
It also regenerates very readily, so the experiment isn’t as “cruel” as it might a first seem.
Best wishes
Simon
Reblogged this on kitwillow.