Creepy, creepy, creepy.
June 17, 2006 4:30 PM Subscribe
Say Hello to the all New Genpets from Bio.Genica! The Genpets are Pre-Packaged, Bioengineered pets implemented today!
Created by Adam Brandjes, a sculptor/programmer in Toronto. In case anyone hadn't yet realised, they're not actually real.
posted by adrianhon at 4:40 PM on June 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by adrianhon at 4:40 PM on June 17, 2006 [1 favorite]
eww Adam Brandjes' Flesh Foot is gross but cool. His Grave LCD is interesting too.
posted by nickyskye at 5:12 PM on June 17, 2006
posted by nickyskye at 5:12 PM on June 17, 2006
Genpets, Extortr - Maybe it's time for another FPP of Bonsai Kitten!
Best of the (phony) web!
posted by squalor at 5:14 PM on June 17, 2006
Best of the (phony) web!
posted by squalor at 5:14 PM on June 17, 2006
That's nothing: an Ewok geneticist (l) has managed to create a Chia/Weeble hybrid (r).
posted by rob511 at 6:04 PM on June 17, 2006
posted by rob511 at 6:04 PM on June 17, 2006
I have to say, I'm really impressed by the amount of work and thought that went into this site. The GenPet site is amazingly layered and detailed, and I think that more naive people might think it was real if they stumbled across it by accident. That's a good thing.
Also, his artist site gives a lot of information about the whole creation and idea process behind this project. Upon reading the GenPet site, I just sorta thought they were little foam things, but it turns out they're all microchip controlled and they actually move in their packaging at random intervals. He had them on display in a gallery/shop in Canada and stated that people got upset by seeing them, banging on the windows of the shop, etc.
Very interesting project. Can't wait until he puts some video up. Then the true creepiness will begin.
posted by almostcool at 6:19 PM on June 17, 2006
Also, his artist site gives a lot of information about the whole creation and idea process behind this project. Upon reading the GenPet site, I just sorta thought they were little foam things, but it turns out they're all microchip controlled and they actually move in their packaging at random intervals. He had them on display in a gallery/shop in Canada and stated that people got upset by seeing them, banging on the windows of the shop, etc.
Very interesting project. Can't wait until he puts some video up. Then the true creepiness will begin.
posted by almostcool at 6:19 PM on June 17, 2006
so yeah, eventually this is going to happen for real.
i think the first genetic engineering pet killer-app will be a puppy that never grows up into an adult dog, yet is still able to be housebroken. and has user-programmable "hyper/spaz mode" and "mellow" mode.
posted by joeblough at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2006
i think the first genetic engineering pet killer-app will be a puppy that never grows up into an adult dog, yet is still able to be housebroken. and has user-programmable "hyper/spaz mode" and "mellow" mode.
posted by joeblough at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2006
In a plant genetics lab where I used to work, we had some choice anti-GMO bumper stickers over the benches. "Genetically engineered FRANKEN-FOODS. Untested, unlabeled, and in YOUR next meal."
Scientists love this technophobic mad-scientists-playing-GOD! crap. It is a much more flattering persona than, you know, the dork.
posted by Methylviolet at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2006
Scientists love this technophobic mad-scientists-playing-GOD! crap. It is a much more flattering persona than, you know, the dork.
posted by Methylviolet at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2006
In a plant genetics lab where I used to work, we had some choice anti-GMO bumper stickers over the benches. "Genetically engineered FRANKEN-FOODS. Untested, unlabeled, and in YOUR next meal."
It's not like non-GMO foods are tested. Do these people realize this? No one has ever really tested the long-term effects of every single chemical in every single food.
posted by delmoi at 9:42 PM on June 17, 2006
It's not like non-GMO foods are tested. Do these people realize this? No one has ever really tested the long-term effects of every single chemical in every single food.
posted by delmoi at 9:42 PM on June 17, 2006
Right, Delmoi. People don't seem to realize that the natural pesticides, fungicides, etc. that many plants make in massive amounts when they are not treated with exogenous chemicals... are not necessarily good for a person.
posted by Methylviolet at 10:00 PM on June 17, 2006
posted by Methylviolet at 10:00 PM on June 17, 2006
It's not like non-GMO foods are tested. No one has ever really tested the long-term effects of every single chemical in every single food.
posted by delmoi
...exogenous chemicals
Yum!
posted by taosbat at 10:40 PM on June 17, 2006
posted by delmoi
...exogenous chemicals
Yum!
posted by taosbat at 10:40 PM on June 17, 2006
Well, all I've got to say is that we've already been messing with animals and kind of customizing their appearances based on human tastes. It's just been a slower process via selective breeding. I mean, we somehow got from wolves to chihuahuas.
What I think is so creepy about these Genpets is that they look vaguely human. But then, I guess that's one of the intents of the artist. Make us question what we're doing. Breeding for certain traits isn't as rapid and as designer as genetically engineering things.
But I think we're a long way from creating totally new kinds of mammal.
posted by Mister Cheese at 12:54 AM on June 18, 2006
What I think is so creepy about these Genpets is that they look vaguely human. But then, I guess that's one of the intents of the artist. Make us question what we're doing. Breeding for certain traits isn't as rapid and as designer as genetically engineering things.
But I think we're a long way from creating totally new kinds of mammal.
posted by Mister Cheese at 12:54 AM on June 18, 2006
It's not like non-GMO foods are tested. Do these people realize this? No one has ever really tested the long-term effects of every single chemical in every single food.
posted by delmoi at 9:42 PM
Huh. Guess mankind eating a food for 5,000 or more years is NOT testing then? Many ancestors died to select the heritage seeds used today. Many ancestors spent years to select palette-pleasing foods. SOME of us DO realize that testing doesn't HAVE to be done in a lab.
But:
No one WILL ever test the long-term effects either - too much work for one person. You DO realize that, right?
posted by rough ashlar at 7:24 AM on June 18, 2006
posted by delmoi at 9:42 PM
Huh. Guess mankind eating a food for 5,000 or more years is NOT testing then? Many ancestors died to select the heritage seeds used today. Many ancestors spent years to select palette-pleasing foods. SOME of us DO realize that testing doesn't HAVE to be done in a lab.
But:
No one WILL ever test the long-term effects either - too much work for one person. You DO realize that, right?
posted by rough ashlar at 7:24 AM on June 18, 2006
The fact that they come Pre-Packaged, instead of just packaged, is a feat in itself. I've never figured out how they do that.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:11 AM on June 18, 2006
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:11 AM on June 18, 2006
w-g p, that's hilarious.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:07 AM on June 18, 2006
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:07 AM on June 18, 2006
fooled for about half a second....very cool site though....inspired....a nice "take a step back" and look at the big picture, our vanity and obsession with pre packaged goods.
posted by jamie939 at 8:52 PM on June 18, 2006
posted by jamie939 at 8:52 PM on June 18, 2006
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I was all set to break out the wallet :)
Nice website though.
posted by -harlequin- at 4:39 PM on June 17, 2006