Scientists in London are working on an oral (rather than topical) form of sunscreen. Specifically, they are synthesizing sun-propelling properties from coral to work in the body as a defense for the human skin against the sun’s damaging rays. This truly is a cyborg technology in Donna Haraway’s use of the term. It is a melding of human, animal, and machine. By ingesting the pill, the human biology is altered. This biological alteration in the human body is caused by its interaction and so enmeshment with the body and biology of the coral–an animal that was altered and synthesized using machine technology in a lab. Beyond a nice illustration of Haraway, the coral-based, human altering, technology reminds us that “nature” and “technology” are not mutually exclusive.
Comments 3
anonymous — September 6, 2011
How is this any different that eating a plant/animal/fungi etc.--i.e., how is it different from anything that has been prepared for human consumption? It begins as a living organism, is then manipulated in regards to a cultural practice and is consumed in a way that enables the corporal being to alter her physio-chemical makeup.
jennydavis — September 6, 2011
great points!! The two are not essentially different, just two different examples. The food example is particularly nice because it speaks to the "cyborgology of everyday life."
Natural Cyborgs | Leaders Vision — September 9, 2011
[...] thesocietypages.org Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Buzz it up Share on Linkedin Share on [...]