Center for PostNatural History

PostNatural Organism of the Month:
Sterile Male Screwworm

About Us

The Center for PostNatural History is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge relating to the complex interplay between culture, nature and biotechnology. The PostNatural refers to living organisms that have been altered through processes such as selective breeding or genetic engineering. The mission of the Center for PostNatural History is to acquire, interpret and provide access to a collection of living, preserved and documented organisms of postnatural origin.

The Center for PostNatural History addresses this goal through three primary initiatives:

The maintenance of a unique catalog of living, preserved and documented specimens of postnatural origin.

The production of traveling exhibitions that address the PostNatural through thematic and regional perspectives.

The establishment of a permanent exhibition and research facility for PostNatural studies.

An Introduction to the CPNH
Video from the exhibit Transgenic Organisms of New York State. [HD version]

Projects and News

Current Exhibitions

Transgenic Mosquitoes of Southern California

A single specimen of genetically engineered Anopheles stephensi. Currently hosted by the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and the ZER01 Festival.
Dates: Now thru March 2012.

Strategies in Genetic Copy Prevention

This exhibit selections of techniques and technologies used to prevent organisms from reproducing. Currently hosted by the Verbeke Foundation.
Dates: Now thru October 31st, 2010.

Past Exhibitions

Transgenic Organisms of New York State

A survey of genetically modified organisms that are created, bred, or exist in the state of New York. Show includes living specimens and dioramas of postnatural habitats. (Moved to storage)

Exhibit | News

Permitted Habitats

PostNatural habitats are determined by culture and politics more often than by climate or ecology. Here we present a visulization of the last 21 years of permits issued for the release of a transgenic organisms as documented by the Federal Test Release Permit Database.