Artist creates a living copy of Vincent Van Gogh's ear with relative's DNA

<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/","20140712034552","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1405136752"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Artist creates a living copy of Vincent Van Gogh's ear with relative's DNA</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"/> <meta name="description" content="Dutch artist Diemut Strebe has created a living replica of Vincent Van Gogh's ear, using DNA from one of his descendants. With a lifespan of 80 years or mor..."/> <meta name="keywords" content="DNA,MIT,Cloning,Harvard,Historic,Art,Science"/> <meta name="news_keywords" content="DNA, MIT, Cloning, Harvard, Historic, Art"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@gizmag"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Artist creates a living copy of Vincent Van Gogh's ear with relative's DNA"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Dutch artist Diemut Strebe has created a living replica of Vincent Van Gogh's ear, using DNA from one of his descendants. With a lifespan of 80 years or more, the ear could live as long as a perso..."/> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/diemutstrebe.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:domain" content="gizmag.com"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/"/> <link rel="image_src" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/diemutstrebe.jpg"/> <link rel="alternate" media="handheld" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://m.gizmag.com/article/32925"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552cs_/http://files.gizmag.com/static_styles.min.css?x=1405123682"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20140712034552cs_/http://www.gizmag.com/css/dynamic_styles.php?x=1405123682"/> <script src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/css_browser_selector.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/xml/" title="Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20140712034552im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20140712034552im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/web/20140712034552im_/http://www.gizmag.com/images/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png"/>   <script type="text/javascript"> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement("script"); gads.async = true; gads.type = "text/javascript"; var useSSL = "https:" == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? "https:" : "http:") + "//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"; var node = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { gpt_leaderboard = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Science_Leaderboard_Top_728x90', [728,90], 'leaderboard') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_hmpg_970 = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/pushdown', [[970,90], [970,250]], 'pushdown') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandtr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Science_IslandTop_Right_300x250', [[300,250], [336,280], [300,600], [300,1050]], 'island_top_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_islandbr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Science_IslandBottom_Right_300x250', [[300,250], [336,280], [300,600]], 'island_bottom_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_skyscraper = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Science_Skyscraper_Right_160x600', [160,600], 'skyscraper_right') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_article_fllwr = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/Article_300x600_Follower', [300,600], 'article_follower') .addService(googletag.pubads()); gpt_bottom_inc = googletag.defineSlot('/1007667/ca-pub-1607124478120364/bottom_include', [1,1], 'bottom_include') .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('pt', 'a'); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.pubads().set('page_url','https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/'); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script>  <script class="kxct" data-id="JG_lk_oI" data-timing="async" data-version="1.9" type="text/javascript"> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments)}).q=[]); (function(){ var k=document.createElement('script');k.type='text/javascript';k.async=true; var m,src=(m=location.href.match(/\bkxsrc=([^&]+)/))&&decodeURIComponent(m[1]); k.src = /^https?:\/\/([a-z0-9_\-\.]+\.)?krxd\.net(:\d{1,5})?\//i.test(src) ? src : src === "disable" ? "" : (location.protocol==="https:"?"https:":"http:")+"//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://cdn.krxd.net/controltag?confid=JG_lk_oI" ; var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(k,s); }()); </script>  <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/global_public.js?1404869523"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $jqr(function () { $jqr('#mobile-link').click(function(){ document.cookie="view=; expires=Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 GMT; path=/"; location.reload(); }); $jqr('#desktop-link').click(function(){ document.cookie="view=desktop; path=/"; location.reload(); }); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var switchTo5x=true;</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://w.sharethis.com/button/buttons.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">stLight.options({publisher: "7fc0c4fe-87f7-4d5d-a8b9-b091a9ac5e80", doNotHash: true, doNotCopy: true, shorten: false, hashAddressBar: false});</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jquery.sticky.js"></script> <script> $jqr(document).ready(function(){ $jqr("#article_follower").sticky({topSpacing:15, bottomSpacing:835}); }); </script> </head> <body> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/login_comments.js?1404869523"></script>  <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: '38456013908', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, oauth: true, channelUrl: window.location.protocol + '//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/fb_channel.php' //channel file to avoid cross domain communication issues }); FB.Event.subscribe('auth.logout', function(response) { if(response.authResponse===null){ //user is logging out of facebook logoutUser(); } }); }; // Load the SDK Asynchronously (function(d){ var js, id = 'facebook-jssdk', ref = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement('script'); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"; ref.parentNode.insertBefore(js, ref); }(document)); var $jqr = jQuery.noConflict(); $jqr(document).ready(function() { var fbuser = checkFBUser(); }); </script>   <script> window.Krux||((Krux=function(){Krux.q.push(arguments);}).q=[]); (function(){ function retrieve(n){ var m, k='kx'+n; if (window.localStorage) { return window.localStorage[k] || ""; } else if (navigator.cookieEnabled) { m = document.cookie.match(k+'=([^;]*)'); return (m && unescape(m[1])) || ""; } else { return ''; } } Krux.user = retrieve('user'); Krux.segments = retrieve('segs') && retrieve('segs').split(',') || []; })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-2235360-4']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 1, 'Section','Science',3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 2, 'Writer', 'Lakshmi Sandhana', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 4, 'PPV_test3', '1', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 5, 'ArticleID', '32925', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar', 3, 'View', 'Article', 3 ]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageLoadTime']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://' : 'http://') + 'stats.g.doubleclick.net/dc.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(ga); })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/ga_social_tracking_min.js"></script>  <div class="index" id="top_index"> <div class="index_center"> <ul class="header_links float_left"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.youtube.com/user/gizmag" title="Gizmag's YouTube Channel"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/iconmonstr-youtube-icon-48.png"></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://twitter.com/gizmag/" title="Follow Gizmag on Twitter"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/iconmonstr-twitter-icon-48.png"></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/stumble/stumblethru:gizmag.com?utm_source=GizMag&utm_medium=StumbleThru&utm_campaign=StumbleThruButton" title="Explore Gizmag" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/iconmonstr-stumbleupon-icon-48.png"></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/xml/" title="Subscribe to Gizmag's RSS feed"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/iconmonstr-rss-icon-48.png"></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://store.gizmag.com/" title="Shop at the Gizmag store"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/layout/icons/iconmonstr-shopping-cart-3-icon-48.png"></a></li> </ul>   <div id="search_form_top"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" id="cse-search-box-top"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:cf1bgg5f284"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" size="28" class="gsearch"/> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-top&lang=en"></script> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="top_strip"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/product-comparison/" target="_blank">Shopping? Check out our latest product comparisons</a></div> <div class="center" id="main-content"> <div id="header"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/" id="logo"></a> <div id="leaderboard" data-cb-ad-id="Leaderboard"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("leaderboard"); }); </script> </div> </div> <div id="pushdown" data-cb-ad-id="Pushdown"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("pushdown"); }); </script> </div>  <div id="top_stories"> <ul> <li id="top_story0"> <a class="ts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mercedes-v-class-marco-polo-campervan/32875/" title="Mercedes hits the long road with new Marco Polo camper van"></a> <div class="ts_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mercedes-v-class-marco-polo-campervan/32875/">Mercedes hits the long road with new Marco Polo camper van</a> </div> </li> <li id="top_story1"> <a class="ts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/f-35b-debut-cancelled/32894/" title=" F-35 Lightning II international debut cancelled"></a> <div class="ts_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/f-35b-debut-cancelled/32894/"> F-35 Lightning II international debut cancelled</a> </div> </li> <li id="top_story2"> <a class="ts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/nuseti-inner-drive-system-mountain-bike/32914/" title="Nuseti mountain bike features a sealed drivetrain"></a> <div class="ts_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/nuseti-inner-drive-system-mountain-bike/32914/">Nuseti mountain bike features a sealed drivetrain</a> </div> </li> <li id="top_story3"> <a class="ts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/test-drive-lamborghini-huracan-review/32844/" title="Test drive: Locking horns with the Lamborghini Huracán"></a> <div class="ts_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/test-drive-lamborghini-huracan-review/32844/">Test drive: Locking horns with the Lamborghini Huracán</a> </div> </li> <li id="top_story4"> <a class="ts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mcor-iris-paper-3d-printer/32903/" title="Layered paper 3D printers: Full colour, durable objects at a fraction of the cost"></a> <div class="ts_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mcor-iris-paper-3d-printer/32903/">Layered paper 3D printers: Full colour, durable objects at a fraction of the cost</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div id="more_top_stories"> <a id="mts_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/top_stories/"></a> <a id="mts_txt" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/top_stories/">more top stories</a> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="content" class="narrow_content"> <div id="article_top" class="summary_details" data-article="32925">  <div class="sd_top"> <a class="vsmall" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/science/" style="float: left; margin-right: 9px;">SCIENCE</a> </div>  <h1 id="ar_title">Artist creates a living copy of Vincent Van Gogh's ear with relative's DNA</h1> <div class="summary_details_left"> <p>By <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/author/lakshmi-sandhana/" rel="author">Lakshmi Sandhana</a></p> <p><em>July 11, 2014</em></p> </div> <div class="summary_details_right"> <div class="has_pictures"><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/pictures">2 Pictures</a></div> </div> </div>  <div id="hero_box" style="width: 530px;"> <a id="hero_link" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/pictures"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/diemutstrebe.jpg" title="The living replica of Vincent Van Gogh's ear, grown using genetic material from one of his..." width="530" height="297" alt="The living replica of Vincent Van Gogh's ear, grown using genetic material from one of his..."/> </a> <div class="pic_caption"> <p>The living replica of Vincent Van Gogh's ear, grown using genetic material from one of his descendants, has a lifespan of 80 years or more (Photo: Diemut Strebe)</p> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/pictures" id="gallery_link">Image Gallery</a> (2 images) </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div id="top_unit"></div> <p>If you thought cloning<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/riken-wakayama-mouse-serial-cloning-snct/26576/" target="_blank"> mice</a>,<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/extinct-gastric-brooding-frog-cloned/26687/" target="_blank"> frogs</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/attempt-to-clone-mammoth/17658/" target="_blank">extinct mammoths</a> to be challenging, how about cloning Vincent Van Gogh's ear? Dutch artist Diemut Strebe has grown a living replica of the ear that Vincent Van Gogh reportedly sliced off in a troubled episode, using genetic material from one of Van Gogh's direct descendants. With a lifespan of 80 years or more, the ear could live as long as any one of us, says Strebe, who is investigating the idea of replicating people from historical DNA.</p> <p>"The ear is grown with Lieuwe van Gogh's cells," Strebe tells Gizmag. "By his natural relationship to Vincent, he carries in his cells the white chromosomes of Vincent and a 16th of his genome."</p> <p>Strebe figured out the shape of the ear by looking at a historical photo of the artist, and extrapolated the measurements to create a 3D-printed mold that approximated its shape. A scaffold placed in the mold was seeded with Van Gogh's cells, which grew until the ear reached its final form. The result, states Strebe, is a true living piece.</p> <p>"It has a metabolism," Strebe tells us. "It lives in a container, in a system which mimics our body. It has a lung, it has a heart, it has plasma and it even has oxygen exchange."</p> <div style="width: 530px; height: 398px; " class="article_img"><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/pictures#2" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/inline/diemutstrebe-1.jpg" width="530" alt="The ear has its own metabolism and lives in a bioreactor which effectively mimics the diff..."/></a></div> <p>To make a system that supported the ear, she built a bioreactor that mimics the body's different parts. According to Strebe, the ear could live to be really old if it's well taken care of and given proper nutrition. To genetically engineer the ear to be as close to Vincen't Van Gogh's as possible, she collaborated with scientists at Harvard and MIT as part of a project called "Sugababe." Along with some of Van Gogh's genetic material, the ear is also made up of some genetically engineered components.</p> <p>While she initially hoped to use Van Gogh's own DNA to grow the ear, that plan fell apart when donated letters that supposedly belonged to the artist (which took a year for her to source) were found to lack any trace of his DNA. Strebe next approached Lieuwe van Gogh, the great-great-grandson of Vincent's brother Theo Gogh, who readily donated a bit of his skin for the project. Strebe, who is currently trying to source other historical DNA to experiment with, says that the project brings up many interesting questions about human replication.</p> <p>"Theoretically a historical person could be genetically created," Strebe tells us." There are many interesting questions involved about uniqueness, about the possibility to reconstruct somebody physically or how identical the result would be even if you get to that point. The questions involved are similar to those when Plutarch talked about the Ship of Thesus – whether a ship would be the same ship if all its parts were replaced?".</p> <p>The living ear was exhibited recently at the Center for Art and Media (ZKM) in Karlsruhe, Germany.</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://diemutstrebe.altervista.org/" target="_blank">Diemut Strebe</a></p>  <div id="sharethis_container" style="margin: 20px 0"> <span class="st_twitter_large" displaytext="Tweet" st_via="gizmag"></span> <span class="st_facebook_large" displaytext="Facebook"></span> <span class="st_googleplus_large" displaytext="Google +"></span> <span class="st_linkedin_large" displaytext="LinkedIn"></span> <span class="st_pinterest_large" displaytext="Pinterest"></span> </div>   <div id="fm-well-zone" data-cb-ad-id="Content Well 1"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://static.fmpub.net/zone/7980"></script> </div> <div id="bottom_unit" data-cb-ad-id="Content Well 2"></div>  <div style="margin-bottom: 20px"> <div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/artist-grows-living-copy-vincent-van-goghs-ear/32925/" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="Gizmag"></div> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> </div> </div>  <span class="title clear_left" id="author_byline_title">About the Author</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="authorcontainer">  <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/author/lakshmi-sandhana/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/author_profiles/198.jpg" alt="Lakshmi Sandhana" id="bio_pic"/> </a>   When Lakshmi first encountered pig's wings in a petri dish, she realized that writing about scientists and imagineers was the perfect way to live in an expanding mind bubble. Articles for <em>Wired</em>, <em>BBC Online</em>, <em>New Scientist</em>, <em>The Economist</em> and <em>Fast Company</em> soon followed. She's currently pursuing her dream of traveling from country to country to not only ferret out cool stories but also indulge outrageously in local street foods. When not working, you'll find her either buried nose deep in a fantasy novel or trying her hand at improvisational comedy.   <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/author/lakshmi-sandhana/">All articles by Lakshmi Sandhana</a> <span id="author_byline_links">   </span> <br class="clear_both"> </div>  <div id="tags"> <span class="title">Tags</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/art/" rel="tag">Art</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/clone/" rel="tag">Cloning</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/dna/" rel="tag">DNA</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/harvard/" rel="tag">Harvard</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/historic/" rel="tag">Historic</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/mit/" rel="tag">MIT</a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> </div> <div id="bing_unit"></div> <span class="title">Post a Comment</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_form_div"> <div id="comment_form" data-article="32925"> <div id="comments_login"> <form action="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/index.php" name="login_form" id="login_form" onsubmit="return false;"> <p class="bold">Login with your gizmag account:</p> <p id="login_status"></p> <label for="email">Email</label><input type="text" name="email" id="email" value=""/> <label for="password">Password</label><input type="password" name="password" id="password" value=""/> <input type="submit" value="Log In" class="med"/> <div id="options"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/register/">Register here</a><br> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/new_password/">Forgotten your password?</a> </div> <input type="hidden" id="expired_comment" value=""/> </form> </div> <div id="facebook_login"> <p>Or <span class="bold">Login with Facebook:</span></p><br/> <div class="fb-login-button" data-scope="email" data-max-rows="1" data-onlogin="loginFUser(32925);" data-autologoutlink="true"></div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div>  <span class="title">Related Articles</span> <div id="related_articles" class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/overpainted-masterpieces-revealed/9725/" title="Overpainted masterpieces revealed "> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/9725_310708110447.jpg" alt="Overpainted masterpieces revealed "/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/overpainted-masterpieces-revealed/9725/">Overpainted masterpieces revealed </a> <p class="rel_date">30th July, 2008</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/4142/" title="Another good hide-the-speakers technology"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/4142_100605121422.jpg" alt="Another good hide-the-speakers technology"/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/4142/">Another good hide-the-speakers technology</a> <p class="rel_date">10th June, 2005</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/perpetual-ocean-visualization/22024/" title="NASA's stunning Perpetual Ocean animation visualizes ocean currents (Image: NASA/Goddard S..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/perpetualocean.jpg" alt="NASA's stunning Perpetual Ocean animation visualizes ocean currents (Image: NASA/Goddard S..."/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/perpetual-ocean-visualization/22024/">NASA's Perpetual Ocean animation turns ocean currents into art</a> <p class="rel_date">2nd April, 2012</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/1539/" title="Legendary Vincent makes a comeback"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/1539_01.jpg" alt="Legendary Vincent makes a comeback"/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/1539/">Legendary Vincent makes a comeback</a> <p class="rel_date"></p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/blight-solar-blind/11233/" title="The integrated solar panels"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/blight-solar-blind.jpg" alt="The integrated solar panels"/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/blight-solar-blind/11233/">The (unfortunately named) Blight solar blind</a> <p class="rel_date">13th March, 2009</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/7137/" title="A sample photo only. See the fotowoosh website for a 3-D interpretation."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/7137_17040783338.jpg" alt="A sample photo only. See the fotowoosh website for a 3-D interpretation."/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/go/7137/">Step inside your 2-D photographs with Fotowoosh</a> <p class="rel_date">18th April, 2007</p> </li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div>  <div id="search_form_bottom"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/search/" id="cse-search-box-bottom"> <span class="title">Looking for something? Search our 27,631 articles</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="partner-pub-1607124478120364:bqw4wo-1udf"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:11"/> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"/> <input type="text" name="q" size="60" id="search_input"/> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"/> </div> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.google.com/cse/brand?form=cse-search-box-bottom&lang=en"></script> </div> <div data-cb-ad-id="Content Well 3"> </div> </div> <div id="right_cols"> <div class="island" id="island_top_right" data-cb-ad-id="Top Island"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_top_right"); }); </script> </div> <div id="right_col_a"> <div id="right_col_b"> <div class="ad" id="skyscraper_right" data-cb-ad-id="Skyscraper"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("skyscraper_right"); }); </script> </div> <div class="ad"> <span class="title">Sections</span> <ul class="dots" id="sections_list"> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/features/" class="features_reviews_list">Features</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/reviews/" class="features_reviews_list">Reviews</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/aircraft/">Aircraft</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/architecture/">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/aroundthehome/">Around The Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/automotive/">Automotive</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/bicycles/">Bicycles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/children/">Children</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/computers/">Computers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/digital-cameras/">Digital Cameras</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/electronics/">Electronics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/environment/">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/games/">Games</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/goodthinking/">Good Thinking</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/health/">Health and Wellbeing</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/destinations/">Holiday Destinations</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/homeentertainment/">Home Entertainment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/remarkablepeople/">Inventors and Remarkable People</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/laptops/">Laptops</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/marine/">Marine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/medical/">Medical</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/military/">Military</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mobiletechnology/">Mobile Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/motorcycles/">Motorcycles</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/music/">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/outdoors/">Outdoors</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/pets/">Pets</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/robotics/">Robotics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/science/">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/space/">Space</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/sports/">Sports</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/telecommunications/">Telecommunications</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/urbantransport/">Urban Transport</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/wearableelectronics/">Wearable Electronics</a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <span class="title">Recent popular articles in Science</span> <ul id="recent_popular" class="vertical_sprite recent_popular_38"> <li id="story0"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-touch/32712/" title="New "invisibility cloak" keeps objects from being felt"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/invisibility-cloak-touch/32712/">New "invisibility cloak" keeps objects from being felt</a> </div> </li> <li id="story1"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/polymer-graphene-substitute-kist/32824/" title="Polymer-based graphene substitute is easy to mass-produce"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/polymer-graphene-substitute-kist/32824/">Polymer-based graphene substitute is easy to mass-produce</a> </div> </li> <li id="story2"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/gradient-structure-increase-metal-toughness/32819/" title="Bamboo inspires new process for making metals tougher"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/gradient-structure-increase-metal-toughness/32819/">Bamboo inspires new process for making metals tougher</a> </div> </li> <li id="story3"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/squid-sucker-teeth/32817/" title="Squid sucker teeth could advance human technology"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/squid-sucker-teeth/32817/">Squid sucker teeth could advance human technology</a> </div> </li> <li id="story4"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-printed-strong-composite/32738/" title="3D-printed composite is lighter than wood and stiffer than concrete"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/3d-printed-strong-composite/32738/">3D-printed composite is lighter than wood and stiffer than concrete</a> </div> </li> <li id="story5"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/burton-true-3d-laser-plasma-display/20499/" title="Burton rolls out True 3D laser plasma display"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/burton-true-3d-laser-plasma-display/20499/">Burton rolls out True 3D laser plasma display</a> </div> </li> <li id="story6"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/higgs-boson-lhs-mit/32677/" title="New evidence strengthens Higgs boson finding"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/higgs-boson-lhs-mit/32677/">New evidence strengthens Higgs boson finding</a> </div> </li> <li id="story7"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/power-pallet-20-gasifier-biomass-generator/32245/" title="Could this little-known biomass generator start an energy revolution?"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/power-pallet-20-gasifier-biomass-generator/32245/">Could this little-known biomass generator start an energy revolution?</a> </div> </li> <li id="story8"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/llnl-ultralight-metamaterial/32589/" title="New materials developed that are as light as aerogel, yet 10,000 times stronger"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/llnl-ultralight-metamaterial/32589/">New materials developed that are as light as aerogel, yet 10,000 times stronger</a> </div> </li> <li id="story9"> <a class="vs_img" href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/time-traveling-photons/32673/" title="Australian researchers simulate a time-traveling photon"></a> <div class="vs_title"> <a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/time-traveling-photons/32673/">Australian researchers simulate a time-traveling photon</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> <div class="island" id="island_bottom_right" data-cb-ad-id="Bottom Island"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("island_bottom_right"); }); </script> </div> <iframe src="/web/20140712034552if_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/gizmag-store.html" id="store" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div id="article_follower" data-cb-ad-id="Article Follower"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("article_follower"); }); </script> </div>   </div>  </div> <div class="clear_left"></div>  </div>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/footer_tabs.js?1404869523"></script> <div id="footer_outer"> <div id="footer">  <div class="footer_item" id="footer_popular"> <span class="footer_title">Most Popular Articles</span>  <div class="tabbable"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs" id="most_popular_tabs"> <li class="active"><a data-target="#popular_today" data-toggle="tab" data-period="day">Today</a></li> <li><a data-target="#popular_week" data-toggle="tab" data-period="week">Last week</a></li> <li><a data-target="#popular_all" data-toggle="tab" data-period="all">All time</a></li> </ul> <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane active" id="popular_today"> <ul class="popular_articles"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/nuseti-inner-drive-system-mountain-bike/32914/">Nuseti mountain bike features a sealed drivetrain</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/ducati-1199-panigale-streetfighter/32920/">Is it possible to make a good-looking Ducati Panigale streetfighter?</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/big-wheel-drift-trike-sfd-industries/32918/">Motorized Big Wheel Drift Trike speaks to your inner child</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mercedes-v-class-marco-polo-campervan/32875/">Mercedes hits the long road with new Marco Polo camper van</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/f-35b-debut-cancelled/32894/">F-35 Lightning II international debut cancelled</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/nuseti-inner-drive-system-mountain-bike/32914/pictures">Nuseti mountain bike features a sealed drivetrain - Images</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mcor-iris-paper-3d-printer/32903/">Layered paper 3D printers: Full colour, durable objects at a fraction of the cost</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/nano-pixel-high-resolution-display-oxford/32919/">"Nano-pixels" hold huge potential for flexible, low-power, high-res screens</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/lg-display-oled-transparent-flexible/32904/">LG "rolls out" latest flexible and transparent OLED panels</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/volvo-claims-that-new-xc90-will-be-the-worlds-cleanest-and-most-powerful-suv/32887/">Volvo claims that new XC90 will be "the world's cleanest and most powerful SUV"</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="popular_week"> <ul class="popular_articles"> </ul> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="popular_all"> <ul class="popular_articles"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="footer_item" id="footer_commented"> <span class="footer_title">Most Commented Articles</span>  <div class="tabbable"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs" id="most_commented_tabs"> <li class="active"><a data-target="#commented_today" data-toggle="tab" id="commented_today_tab" data-period="day">Today</a></li> <li><a data-target="#commented_week" data-toggle="tab" id="commented_week_tab" data-period="week">Last week</a></li> <li><a data-target="#commented_all" data-toggle="tab" id="commented_all_tab" data-period="all">All time</a></li> </ul> <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane active" id="commented_today"> <ul class="commented_articles"> </ul> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="commented_week"> <ul class="commented_articles"> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/windowless-cockpit-airbus/32816/">Airbus patents windowless cockpit that would increase pilots' field of view</a> (43)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/ecodrain-drain-heat-exchanger/32858/">EcoDrain recycles the heat in used hot shower water</a> (23)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/ucr-nox-out-catalytic-reduction-lawnmower-emissions/32872/">Student-designed device reduces gas lawnmower air pollution by over 90 percent</a> (21)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/radical-helicopter-design-has-dual-tilting-blades-and-can-travel-at-over-270mph/32840/">Radical dual tilting blade helicopter design targets speeds of over 270mph</a> (18)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/f-35b-debut-cancelled/32894/"> F-35 Lightning II international debut cancelled</a> (14)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/mcor-iris-paper-3d-printer/32903/">Layered paper 3D printers: Full colour, durable objects at a fraction of the cost</a> (12)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/net-zero-energy-home-surplus/32906/">Net-zero energy test home ends year-long study with surplus energy</a> (12)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/volvo-claims-that-new-xc90-will-be-the-worlds-cleanest-and-most-powerful-suv/32887/">Volvo claims that new XC90 will be "the world's cleanest and most powerful SUV"</a> (12)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/707-hp-dodge-challenger-hellcat/32791/">Dodge claims 707-hp Challenger SRT Hellcat is the "most powerful muscle car ever"</a> (10)</li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/esa-rover-quadcopter-sky-crane-autonomous-mars/32839/">Dropship quadcopter concept may offer precise, safe landings for Mars rovers</a> (10)</li> </ul> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="commented_all"> <ul class="commented_articles"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="footer_item nomargin" style="margin: 0px;" id="footer_subscribe"> <div> <form id="footer_email_form" class="form-inline" action="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/index.php"> <span class="small">Subscribe to Gizmag's</span><br/> <span class="large">Email Newsletter</span> <input type="text" name="email" class="email" value="Enter Your Email Address ..." onclick="this.value=''; this.style.color='#999'" id="footer_email"/> <button type="submit" class="bootbtn" id="footer_subscribe_button">Subscribe</button> </form> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/subscribe_footer.js?1404869523"></script> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://twitter.com/gizmag/" class="twitter_footer greytitle"> <span class="small">Follow Gizmag on</span> <span class="large">Twitter</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.youtube.com/user/gizmag" class="youtube_footer greytitle"> <span class="small">Subscribe to Gizmag's</span> <span class="large">YouTube channel</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/xml/" class="rss_footer greytitle"> <span class="small">Subscribe to Gizmag's </span> <span class="large">RSS feed</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://www.stumbleupon.com/channel/Gizmag/" class="su_footer greytitle"> <span class="small">Follow Gizmag on </span> <span class="large">Stumbleupon</span></a> </div> <div class="subscribe_options"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/https://plus.google.com/105149739082983197804" class="gplus_footer greytitle"> <span class="small">Follow Gizmag on </span> <span class="large">Google Plus</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div id="copyright"><em>All content copyright © Gizmag 2003 - 2014</em></div> <div class="clear_left"></div> </div> <div class="index" id="footer_index"> <div class="index_center bottom_strip"> <ul> <li><a href="#top">Top</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/about/">About</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/privacy/">Privacy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/termsofuse/">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20140712034552/http://www.gizmag.com/advertise/" class="brighter">Advertise</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20140712034552cs_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jqmodal/jqModal.css"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/jqmodal/jqModal.js"></script> <div id="subscribe_overlay_container" class="jqmWindowModSize"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20140712034552js_/http://www.gizmag.com/inc/subscribe_overlay.js?x=1405136752"></script>  <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://static.getclicky.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">clicky.init(110681);</script> <noscript><p><img alt="Clicky" width="1" height="1" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552im_/http://in.getclicky.com/110681ns.gif"/></p></noscript>  <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={uid:4159,domain:"gizmag.com"}; _sf_async_config.authors = "Lakshmi Sandhana"; _sf_async_config.sections = "Science"; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', '//web.archive.org/web/20140712034552/http://static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_pub.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140712034552js_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/new.cetrk.com/pages/scripts/0008/8786.js"> </script>   <div id="bottom_include"> <script type="text/javascript">googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("bottom_include"); });</script> </div>        </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Artist creates a living copy of Vincent Van Gogh's ear with relative's DNA