Who knew a developing mouse brain could be breathtaking? It is when it's a photograph called "Rose Garden."
The work is part of the BioArtography program -- unique art made by University of Michigan scientists who study everything from diabetes and cancer to digestive disorders and genetic diseases.
"We have a picture of yeast this year. There's bioengineered samples. There are a lot of mouse tissues that you'll see in the booth," said Dr. Deb Gumucio, who leads the project and the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the University of Michigan Medical School.
The program began in 2005 as a fundraiser. Proceeds are used to send young scientists to research meetings.
"These are all done in the course of biomedical research and people trying to find mechanisms of disease or cures for disease," explained Gumucio.
Graduate students compete to have their work chosen for the show.
Graduate student David Lorberbaum's photo is titled "Winging It." It highlights the disc-like structure in a fruit fly larvae that will eventually become a wing. At least that's what Lorberbaum sees when he looks at the image. But to others?
"I'm getting all these comments, 'Well actually it looks like a pear,' and it looks like other things that are not what I see at all," said Lorberbaum. "It's actually been really cool to know that it's not just a fly wing."
Ken Taniguchi is a postdoctoral fellow who studies stem cells. His photo, titled "Glimmer in Mom's Eye" captures a three day old mouse embryo.
"It's really a good opportunity to educate the public about what we do and how relevant this is," said Taniguchi. "There was always something that we say, 'Oh that looks really, really cool,' but I never thought of selling it."
BioArtography allows the young researchers to see their work in a new way, and customers appreciate the stories behind the images.
"To hear explanations of exactly what's in the pictures is very interesting and neat," said Annmarie Schramm as she browsed the booth.
Other people come looking own a particular disease for personal reasons.
"A woman came in just this morning," said Gumucio. "Her husband had died of Parkinson's disease, and she really wanted a picture of Parkinson's research, to know that something was going on to help other people who might have that disease. That happens all the time."
They're images that support and hopefully inspire the future of research.
"When you have a 10- or 11-year-old come in the booth, and she looks at something and says, 'Oh I want to be a scientist, that's what we're all about," said Gumucio.
The BioArtography booth is located on East University at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Prices range from $2 for a notecard up to $235 for a large framed print.
After the fair is over, the images will be available to order online at www.bioartography.com. Images from previous years are also available.