7 Series: CRISPR

Hand-painted resin cast on beech base.

Sculpture: 49cm x 16cm x 7cm

Base: 27cm x 7cm x 17cm

SOLD

A response to the loss of my brother-in-law and friend, Dean, the 7 Series explores the condition and genetics of cystic fibrosis.

Rather than using drugs to correct the function of the CFTR protein, another area of research underway is looking to correct the CFTR gene itself, either by delivering healthy, non-mutated copies of the gene using gene therapy, or by permanently correcting the existing damaged copy of the gene using gene editing (using a technique known as CRISPR to exploit a quirk in the immune systems of bacteria to edit genes in other organisms). There are many potential risks with this technology and human applications may be premature but is nonetheless a very exciting breakthrough.

The design shows a strand of DNA being edited with the insertion of a non-mutated copy of the gene.

The position of the CF gene (CFTR) is indicated on the sculpture by the copper coloured band on one of the long arms (an aesthetic decision, as in reality the gene is in the same position on both long arms).