IMP: The Art of Cell Division

The Integrating EU-project “MitoSys” is a major, multi-national research effort that aims to deepen our understanding of how cells divide. To make this project more accessible to the public, the scientists will be joined by artists of various disciplines who complement the research process.

MitoSys (systems biology of mitosis) is funded by the European Commission under its Seventh Framework (FP7) Programme. The 10 million Euro, five-year scientific project is a joint research effort, bringing together the expertise of thirteen European institutions and companies to generate a comprehensive mathematical understanding of mitotic cell division. The project is coordinated by Jan-Michael Peters, Senior Scientist and Deputy Director at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna. He has previously led the EU-project MitoCheck, which identified 600 genes involved in mitosis out of the 22,000 genes in the human genome and characterized the assembly of these mitosis genes into “molecular machines.”

Similar to MitoCheck, its follow-up project MitoSys will integrate the work of leading mathematicians, biochemists, biophysicists, biologists. This time, however, their efforts will be complemented by an ambitious outreach-project, involving internationally renowned artists from the genres of dance, ceramics, sculpture and fine arts. The project entitled “Meeting of Minds” is curated by Marina Wallace, director of Artakt at the University of the Arts in London.

The collaborators have been paired to form four couples, each involving a scientist who specializes in a particular aspect of mitosis and an artist as partner. The pairs meet regularly to gain insight into each other’s discipline and expertise. As a result of this interaction, four videos will be produced and incorporated into the documentary “Meeting of Minds”, elucidating the science explored and documenting the communication process. The screening of the film is part of an exhibition that will tour several European cities.

The pairings promise to deliver unique and diverse pieces of art: Geneticist Kim Nasmyth will be accompanied by experimental choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh. Cell biologist Tony Hyman is joined by artists Ackroyd & Harvey whose work includes sculpture, photography and architecture. Meiosis expert Melina Schuh will team up with Rob Kesseler, visual artist and Professor of Ceramic Art & Design at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design. Visual artists Lucy and Jorge Orta will interpret the work of cell-cycle expert Jan-Michael Peters.

“Artists and scientists have a lot in common,” says coordinator Jan-Michael Peters. “They are curious, creative and they are trained to cross borders. Even though we have completely different means of approaching our subjects, I have a feeling that we might all be driven by the same fundamental questions about the mechanisms of life.”