Rediscovering Fragments of Identity

Quick Summary

• Artist and biohacker Heather Dewey-Hagborg explores the fate of biological samples collected during medical procedures in her installation titled Is a Biobank a Home?.
• The exhibition features vials labeled as “blood,” sound pieces called Correspondence song, and stained-glass artwork themed on her biopsied tissue.
• Her work highlights issues around the ownership and ethical use of human biological samples, referencing historic injustices such as the Henrietta Lacks case.
• A 2017 U.S. proposal to require written consent for the use of human research samples was abandoned due to concerns from biomedical research groups over costs,logistics,and privacy risks.
• The decline of at-home DNA testing kits has sparked questions about corporate handling of genetic data from users.
• The exhibition emphasizes that fragments collected in labs or homes are part of us, warranting ethical consideration.

Indian Opinion analysis

The topic touches on global concerns about ethics in biotechnology but has implications for India’s advancing healthcare industry too. With India rapidly being positioned as a medical tourism hub and growing its biopharma sector, similar debates might arise concerning consent protocols for biological sample usage. Ethical lapses could potentially jeopardize public trust even while scientific innovation thrives. India’s regulatory framework regarding genetic data privacy will likely need robust updates to ensure transparency while addressing logistical challenges faced by researchers globally.

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