Principles and Practices

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

HOW TO GROW BIOLUMINESCENT MENSTRUAL BLOOD? A SYNTHETIC BIOART PROJECT

Bioluminescence is the production of visible light by living organisms. The light is produced through the oxidation of luciferin, which is catalyzed by an enzyme called luciferase. This phenomenon is believed to have evolved 540 million years ago in Earth’s ancient oceans [1]. Present in the majority of marine species but also in land-based ones such as fungi, bacteria and fireflies, bioluminescence serves biological purposes such as mating, hunting, and defense behaviors [2]. Bioluminescence has become an essential tool in biological engineering not just for sensing but also controlling biological processes [3-4].

While bioluminescence unanimously elicits attraction and curiosity, one cannot say the same for menstruation. The social stigma around it has slowly receded with increased visibility in the media over the past five years, but menstrual health remains under-researched. In particular, the precise biological impact of hormonal variation during perimenopause, which can last up to 10 years, remains unknown. When it comes to transgender menstrual health, the gap is even wider. Insights into how hormone therapy affects the menstrual cycle in trans men are sparse and usually extrapolated from research carried out on menopausal cis women [5–6].

Ironically, synthetic biology holds extraordinary potential to revolutionize trans health. For instance, by unlocking the expression of genes implicated in genital growth or creating organs de novo, synthetic biology methods could dramatically improve the quality of life of transgender patients undergoing gender-affirming surgeries, which are currently highly risky and often associated with poor outcomes.

The art installation invites the public to immerse themselves in a softly glowing, living artificial womb and observe pulsating “menstrual” blood being infused into it. By using synthetic biology to transform menstruation from a hidden process into a shared contemplative experience, I aim to raise awareness of the societal impact of scientific bias and the urgent need to invest in neglected research fields such as menstrual and trans health.

Shining light into the abyss of a womb is also a metaphorical invitation to regain the senses. Beyond the previously mentioned primary goal, I want to show that synthetic biology can be used in ways other than a product-centered perspective. In a world that is suffocating, it is meaningful to be reminded of life’s evolutionary timescales, as well as how the race for productivity and overconsumption affects Earth’s wonders such as embryonic development and bioluminescent life. The piece is a call to slow down, and rethink our vision of what the future of the synthetic biology revolution should look like.

Methodological strategies The menstruation-like fluid can either be derived from menses or created artificially [7]. Two strategies can be considered to enable the production of bioluminescence:

1. Creating a menstrual-like fluid (e.g. serum extracted from menstrual blood) in which bioluminescent marine microorganisms can survive in culture, and in a second step modifying the genome of these microorganisms to elicit a photonic response under specific stimuli. Monitoring of the environment changes by use of living biosensors approach.
2. Inserting luciferase/luciferin genes into the genome of cells typically contained in menstrual blood, such as endometrial cells or vaginal microbiota [8]. Monitoring of the changes in cellular ecosystems approach.

Bibliography [1] Danielle M. DeLeo et al. Evolution of bioluminescence in Anthozoa with emphasis on Octocorallia. Proc Biol Sci (2024) [2] Martini S. et al. Quantification of bioluminescence from the surface to the deep sea demonstrates its predominance as an ecological trait. Nature Scientific Reports (2017) [3] Widder E. et al. Review of Bioluminescence for Engineers and Scientists in Biophotonics. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics (2013) [4] Love A. et al. Seeing (and using) the light: Recent developments in bioluminescence technology. Cell Chem Biol. (2020) [5] Perrone A. Effect of long-term testosterone administration on the endometrium of female-to-male (FtM) transsexuals. J Sex Med (2009) [6] Buck E. et al. Menstrual Suppression. Treasure Island (2025) [7] Tindal K. et al. The composition of menstrual fluid, its applications, and recent advances to understand the endometrial environment: a narrative review. F&S Reviews (2024) [8] France M. et al. Towards a deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiota. Nat Microbiol (2022)

II. GOUVERNANCE & POLICY GOALS (Synthetic Biology & Bioart in Berlin, Germany)

Overarching goal Ensure that the use of synthetic biology in artistic contexts is safe, non-maleficent, socially responsible, and inclusive, while complying with German and EU biosafety, biosecurity, and human rights frameworks.

GOAL 1: Ensure bio safety and prevent harm Sub-goal 1.1: Regulatory compliance and containment. Sub-goal 1.2: Prevention of misuse of the art work. Key institution: Institutional biosafety committees (Beauftragte für biologische Sicherheit)

GOAL 2: Promote equity and justice in biomedical narratives Sub-goal 2.1: Address epistemic bias in research priorities. Sub-goal 2.2: Protect the dignity and the autonomy of transgender patients. Key institution: German Ethics Council (Deutscher Ethikrat).

GOAL 3: Foster responsible innovation and public engagement Sub-goal 3.1: Transparency and public understanding of the art piece. Clearly communicate what aspects of the work are biological, synthetic, or metaphorical, supporting informed public engagement with synthetic biology. Sub-goal 3.2: Encourage reflective, non-product-centered innovation. Use the artwork to challenge efficiency- and market-driven narratives of biotechnology, aligning with broader German and EU discussions on sustainability and responsible research and innovation (RRI). Key institutions: European Commission (RRI framework), German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

III. GOUVERNANCE ACTIONS

Action 1: Mandatory Biosafety & Ethics Review for Art–Science Projects

Actor(s): Academic institutions, art schools, biosafety committees, federal regulators (BVL)

1. Purpose Current state: Biosafety review in Germany (GenTG) is robust for academic research, but art–science projects often fall into grey zones, especially when hosted outside of traditional labs. Proposed change: Require formal biosafety and ethics review for any art project involving synthetic biology or GMOs, regardless of whether it is framed as “research” or “art.”

2. Design Extend existing institutional biosafety committee (Beauftragte für biologische Sicherheit) oversight to art institutions collaborating with labs. Require project registration and approval before exhibition, similar to IRB-style review but adapted for bioart. Low administrative burden by using existing regulatory infrastructure under the Gentechnikgesetz.

3. Assumptions Assumes that ethical risks in bioart are comparable to those in research. Assumes institutions are willing to take responsibility for hybrid practices.

4. Risks of Failure & “Success” Failure: Overregulation could discourage experimental art or push practices underground. Success risk: If normalized, review processes may become procedural and lose critical engagement, reducing ethics to box-ticking. Analogy: Drone registration systems that increased safety but initially slowed creative experimentation.

Action 2: Incentivizing Low-Risk, Contained Design Choices

Actor(s): Funding bodies (BMBF), foundations, academic labs, artists

1. Purpose Current state: Synthetic biology innovation is often optimized for scalability, performance, and commercial value. Proposed change: Create incentives (funding criteria, exhibition access) favoring contained, non-scalable, low-risk biological designs, especially in public-facing projects.

2. Design Funding calls explicitly reward projects that use Risk Group 1 organisms, non-reproductive systems, or synthetic analogues. Curatorial guidelines for public exhibitions prioritize containment and reversibility.

3. Assumptions Assumes artists and researchers respond meaningfully to incentive structures. Assumes “low-risk by design” can be assessed reliably.

4. Risks of Failure & “Success” Failure: Incentives may be ignored if prestige or novelty outweighs funding concerns. Success risk: Could unintentionally marginalize more radical or speculative research that challenges current risk models. Analogy: “Privacy-by-design” incentives in software development that improved norms but constrained some innovation paths.

Action 3: Transparency & Contextualization Requirements for Public Display

Actor(s): Exhibiting institutions, artists, regulators, public educators

1. Purpose Current state: Audiences often cannot distinguish between speculative, artistic, and clinical uses of biotechnology. Proposed change: Require clear public-facing contextualization for bioart using synthetic biology.

2. Design Mandatory disclosure explaining what is biological, synthetic, symbolic, or hypothetical. Clear statements that the work is non-therapeutic and non-clinical. Oversight by exhibiting institutions, not law enforcement.

3. Assumptions Assumes transparency increases public trust rather than fear. Assumes audiences engage with contextual information when provided.

4. Risks of Failure & “Success” Failure: Contextualization may be ignored or misunderstood. Success risk: Overexplanation could domesticate or neutralize critical artistic ambiguity. Analogy: Financial product disclosures that protect consumers but often overwhelm them.

IV. GOVERNANCE ACTIONS: SCORING

(from 1-3 with, 1 as the best, or n/a)

V. PRIORITAZING STRATEGY FOR ACTION(S)

Action 01 should be prioritized because a foundational principle of academic biological research is the precautionary principle. Action 03 should also be prioritized because bioart can only be meaningful if it is conducted ethically and responsibly—not to create sensation, but to stimulate curiosity and deeper reflection.

VI. CONCLUSION: ETHICAL CONCERNS

Coming from an artistic perspective, I found it challenging to situate my project within the framework of the course. I was troubled by the fact that my proposal was not product-oriented: transforming the appearance of menstrual blood into light did not align with the “How To Grow” formulation.

As I am only beginning to engage with synthetic biology, it may seem presumptuous to question product-driven research. Yet, like many other fields, synthetic biology is shaped by the economic logics that have governed technological development since the Industrial Revolution. This raises the possibility of expanding its scope beyond productivity alone, toward applications that invite reflection, care, and alternative ways of relating to life.

AI support: ChatGPT. The tool was used to discuss the relevance of different final project ideas and to provide initial responses that served as a starting point for questions related to governance and policy, based on the prompts: project description and assignment questions.