Protocell Circus

Protocell Circus (2010), produced by Dr. Rachel Armstrong and Michael Simon Toon, is the first film to show the recognizable lifelike behavior of laboratory-created protocells.[1][2][3]

Armstrong synthesized and filmed the protocells of Protocell Circus at the laboratory of Bartlett School of Architecture, University College of London.[4] Her research incorporates protocells in the development of self-repairing 'living' architecture.[5] Armstrong and Dr. Martin Hanczyc of the University of Southern Denmark developed the Bütschli dynamic droplet system used to synthesize the oil-based cells shown in the film.[6][7][8] Although they contain no genetic material, these protocells absorb fuel and react to their environment as well as each other, which among other factors contribute to the theory that this "model could be considered as a type of primitive life that could have been possible on the early Earth."[9]

Toon edited, sound designed, and post-produced Armstrong's raw footage, emphasizing moments of seemingly lifelike motion and interaction among the reagents.[10] He also wrote subtitles for the cells' interactions using simple anthropomorphic statements such as "I'm afraid," "I love you," and "I want to escape." The combination of images and subtitles have been variously interpreted, both as a reflection of the human need to see similarities to ourselves in even proto-biological systems, and the converse suggestion that human behavior is actually a complex reflection of the behavior of primordial chemistry.[11][12]

  • Future Human season (2010) British Film Institute, BFI Southbank, London[13]
  • Digital Art@Google NYC (2010) Chelsea Art Museum of Manhattan, New York City[14]
  • Synth-ethic: Art and Synthetic Biology Exhibition (2011) Natural History Museum of Vienna, Austria [3]

See also

References
  1. Toon, Michael Simon (2011). "Protocell Circus". YouTube.
  2. "Rachel Armstrong: Applied scientist, innovator." Speakers, Ted.com. (c) TED Conferencing LLC. Accessed 7-31-13.
  3. "Living Chemistry & A "Natural History" of Protocells." Archived 2016-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Synth-ethic: Art and Synthetic Biology Exhibition 2013. 14.05 – 26.06.2011 in the Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria. Produced by Biofaction KG. Added 20-4-2011 21:09.
  4. "Protocell Circus". YouTube. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  5. Armstrong, Rachel. (2012) "A Trip To The Living City Of The Future." Fast Company.
  6. Armstrong, Rachel; Hanczyc, Martin (2013). "Bütschli Dynamic Droplet System". Artificial Life. 19 (3_4): 331–346. doi:10.1162/ARTL_a_00111. PMID 23834593.
  7. Wagget, Rebeccah. "Understanding Abiogenesis - moving from polymers to protocells." Worksheet. Department of Biology. University of Tampa. Accessed 8-4-13.
  8. "Martin Hanczyc:The Thin Line Between Life And Not Life." TED Talk. Filmed May 2011. Posted Nov 2011.
  9. Marchant, Jo (2011). "Oil droplets mimic early life". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2011.118.
  10. Toon, Michael Simon. "Protocell Video". proto-futures: all things related protocell technology. Updated 10-27-2012.
  11. Schmidt, Marcus (2011). "Production of synthetic biology in science, media, film and art." Life Workshop. Presentations of the meeting of the German Ethics Council. Berlin. (C) 2013 German Ethics Council. p. 36.
  12. Toon, Michael Simon (January 8, 2011) Werkstatt Leben. Bedeutung der Synthetischen Biologie für Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. RUclip.com.
  13. "Future Sex Panel Discussion." Future Human season. British Film Institute. BFI Southbank, London, UK.
  14. "Digital Art@Google: We Write This To You From The Distant Future." TheProjectRoom.org. August 20 – October 22, 2010.
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