Horizontal Gene Transfer

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Oil on canvas, 50″ x 40″

Squiggly lines coming together to create ambiguous shapes. Hazy washes bouncing between warm and cool.  These two motifs were inspired by the concepts surrounding horizontal gene transfer and the premature stages of life. Initially, it is speculated that primitive cells to co-existed with one another, almost like in a giant pool of “information”. “Information” or genes were freely passed around from cell to cell, molecules coming in and out of membranes. This chaotic setting stuck with me. Gene sharing happened arbitrarily; the cells didn’t choose which genes they absorbed/let go of. But if every organism shares its genes, then what makes that organism unique? Where do we draw the line of the individual?

Most of early life was like this –  indistinguishable puddles of genes/ cells, mixing and swapping endlessly. And it would have stayed like that until one cell changed its mind- it stopped swapping genes. By not exchanging genes anymore, this one cell become more of an “individual”.  Once more and more cells followed this pattern, were we able to observe “differences”. I enjoy this idea of rogue cells refusing  to follow the norm. And a biproduct of this separation meant that cells were now allowed to specialize and diversify, branching of into wildly different life forms. Organic life of today would not have happened if it weren’t for some cells refusing to share.

Inspired by [Infective Hereditary by Radiolab.](https://radiolab.org/podcast/infective-heredity