Hereditary Allegories

a Study in Genetics


HEREDITARY ALLEGORIES
is a survey of topics, experiments, studies, incidents, stories, rumors, accidents, plans, people, personalities, histories, and eventualities that comprise some of the groundwork for contemporary genetics research. It is not about DNA, but about the conception of DNA in the human mind.

The survey is divided into three categories: Twin Studies, Control Studies, and Anomalies. Each investigation highlights a particular aspect of genetics research, and is based upon an actuality.

This work originally appeared as an installation inhabited by thirty-five mice and a canary, from October 11 to December 4, 1995. Conceived and created by Gail Wight, Hereditary Allegories was commissioned by

a non-profit arts organization that encourages experimentation in contemporary art.

Images, architecture, and scripting of this site are the responsibility of the artist with the exception of photos on the following pages, which were taken by Ben Blackwell: installation; Z: Harry's Mouse; Biological Mining.
Special thanks for hosting this site to
and

Thoughts and comments are welcome, and can be sent to gw@notochord.org