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Science or art? Transparent animals with colored skeletons

By Rain Noe - June 30, 2010

in Object Culture

Check these little guys out:

So cool! Anyways I cannot read Japanese and am relying on Google Translator's muddled take on this webpage, but from what I gather: Japanese researchers have discovered a way to render a dead animal's flesh and muscles completely transparent, and somehow dyed their skeletal systems a variety of cyan and magenta colors, all presumably in the name of scientific research. Check out some of the results:

I know that these images look like the skeletons without flesh and muscles, but as this video creepily illustrates, the skeletons are in fact encased in bodies that have been rendered transparent:

It's cool and creepy at the same time. I just hope these researchers don't link up with the guys behind those "Bodies" exhibits.

"None of us signed up for this, you know."

o

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Mazza

14 years ago

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This process is also used by the "bio-artist" Brandon Ballengee:

http://www.parcoartevivente.it/pav/index.php?lingua_sito=2

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Nicholas Newcombe

14 years ago

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where can I get myself one of these?! or the necessary dyes etc to replicate one?
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PlatypusBob

14 years ago

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Hey, I was able to translate some of the main points. What was described was, these "transparent preservations"have been gaining popularity as interior design and art collections. The method of preservation has been around for some time, according to the article. The rest of the page discusses some of the steps involved and a mention of the "Bodies" exhibits gaining popularity as well.
The proteins (fleshy areas) are soaked in a solution that renders it transparent.Then it goes through a dying process which dyes the bones a magenta color, and the cartilage a blue/cyan color. The process can take over year depending on the specimen.
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bob

14 years ago

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I used to use this procedure in grad school for clearing and staining cartilage and bone of various specimens for research. Here is a link for one protocol that I located http://www.feap.info/FileLibrary%5C18%5CStainingprotocol_SH.pdf
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j9

14 years ago

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Wow, cool find. I hope someone can translate. Funny note about the Bodies stuff. These are prettier, so I almost hope for it (consent would be nice though.)
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