Precious Cells delves into the fascinating story of donated human embryos used in scientific research to understand how we develop: from a fertilised egg to a functioning human being. A better understanding of early human development may one day lead to better treatments for many conditions such as infertility, childhood cancers, spina bifida, heart defects and many other conditions.
This artwork was informed by a series of conversations between members of the public, scientists who work with early human embryos and the artist. Embryos that are produced for fertility treatment but will not be used for family building are a hugely valuable resource for scientists who rely on the generosity of patients to donate them for research.
In the artwork, the golden colour of the tiny clusters of cells represents their preciousness for research. The liquid environment in which they are depicted represents the environment in which human embryos develop in the lab. The 3D digital models of embryos are based on microscope images from laboratory research.
An interactive version of the work can be accessed via https://annadumitriu.co.
Credit: Credit The artwork was supported by the Human Developmental Biology Initiative (HDBI) and the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. Funded by Wellcome. Coding and 3d modelling by Alex May.
Members of the HDBI public panel (the ‘Insights Group’), scientists and a policy expert from Progress Educational Trust provided valuable input in conversations about research with early human embryos.
The project was inspired by the work of Dr Marieke Bigg and her research on Dame Anne McLaren, a Pioneering Scientist in Developmental Biology
Materials: video
Year 2023
