A recent McFarland & Singer project with The James Hutton Institute is now complete. I’ve been working with Gillian McFarland on this project for a couple of years and the artwork has been delivered to the Hutton Institute. Read more on the McFarland & Singer website.
Ruth & Gillian have been collaborating with Dr Isabelle Colas at The James Hutton Institute on a project to interpret the meiosis (cell division) which naturally occurs in the barley plant.
During the research discussions with Dr Colas, we were fascinated by the diagrams of changing cell division and reconnection which occurs in barley. Following on from previous work with genetics and mutations, we developed the idea of creating a representation of these processes and asking for others to create their own unique mutations and cell divisions. We have designed and produced a set of cards showing the process, printed on paper including straw to represent barley.
The cards can be used as a teaching aid to be sorted into unique mutations / arrangements by participants showing the changes that can occur naturally with this plant.
A series cards have been assembled to create a hanging artwork showing multiple variations of the barley meiosis process. This piece will hang in The James Hutton Institute.
This project has been funded by UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council withThe James Hutton Institute & The International Barley Hub.
Ruth Singer 
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