Science: Research, Development and Darwin

Name: Alizarin-Stained Fetus

Origins: n.d. Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.

Collection: “Case Histories”; UCL Pathology

Object ID: UCL.18.006

Description: 36-week old male human fetus preserved in Kaiserling solution. Alizarin-staining has been used to articulate its skeletal structure, which causes the red coloration. As part of UCL’s Pathology Collection, the fetus is primarily used to educate medical students and public visitors on fetal anatomy and development. The origins of this specimen are unknown, but it was most likely obtained from its mother using a cesarean section after she suffered a miscarriage.

Ethical Reflections: The human fetus display requires careful consideration as there is limited information as to how it was obtained and it is unclear whether the mother gave her consent – consent within pathological studies is crucial to avoid poor ethical treatment and medical malpractice. Visitors may react differently to seeing human remains. Some might experience emotional or physical discomfort, or have religious or cultural beliefs objecting to human body parts being displayed publicly.  Please contact our Visitor Experience Team if you have any concerns or questions about this object.

Anatomical models and specimen, such as this fetus, are useful for educational and research purposes. They enhance our understanding of human development and help specialists develop appropriate surgical and diagnostic techniques. The scientific study of human reproduction involves everything from hormonal cycles, sexual intercourse and embryological development. On a wider scale, human reproduction is studied in relation to Darwin’s theory of evolution, which describes how we have gradually changed over millennia via natural selection. This can become problematic when proponents of eugenics use scientific theories to justify racist ideologies, suggesting that some races are more evolved than others. Reproductive science is nonetheless a fast developing field, with widespread applications for public health. For instance, new technologies such as ultrasounds and genetic testing give us insight into how we are conceived and develop, facilitating treatment of genetic diseases and creating opportunities for people to become parents via in-vitro fertilisation.

The Home: Family, Children and Education

Having ‘The Talk’ with your parents or children can be awkward and scary for both parties. Euphemisms, such as the ‘Stork’ are often used to soften these discussions. As a parent, it can be difficult to figure out the correct timing and method to explain sexual activity and reproductive health. There is also growing pressure to accurately communicate delicate topics such as safe sex and consent. In 2015, UNESCO called for governments, parents, and schools to provide quality sex education, to empower children and adolescents and respect human rights and gender equality.

The whens and hows of sex education vary immensely across the world. The Dutch are famous for their liberal approaches, making sex education mandatory in school from kindergarten (aged 5). In the UK, sex education has only been a compulsory part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic programme since 2017. How sexual reproduction is discussed might vary among homes, schools, and countries – and it might be uncomfortable – but it is a fundamental aspect of preventing sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies and gender-based violence.

Watch this video to see how parents choose to explain sex to their kids!

History: Mythology and Creationism

Name: The Birth of Venus (Nascita di Venere)

Artist: Sandro Botticelli (Firenze 1445-1510)

Created: 1484-1486 (Italy)

Physical Description: Tempera on canvas; 1.72 m x 2.78 m

Location: Room 10-14,Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy.

Object ID:  Inv. 1890 no. 878

This painting depicts the birth of the Roman Goddess Venus. As the story goes, she emerged from the sea in a shell, fully grown and nude. On the left are the Zephyr, God of Wind, and Aura, Goddess of lighter breezes. On the right is one of the Horae, a minor goddess of time and spring, holding a garment to cover Venus as she arrives ashore. Not only does this painting view human reproduction through a mythological lens, it also explores the connections between romantic love and human reproduction, Venus being the goddess of love.

Thinking about human reproduction inevitably leads to questions about how human life began in the first place. Existential origins questions are often addressed using mythology or religion. This was especially apparent during the Renaissance, when there was a resurgence of Greek and Classical ideas. This period, literally meaning rebirth, explored human connections to religion and the role of God in reproduction and creationism. Answers to these complex questions will likely never be completely agreed on across society as a whole.

The Adult World: Erotica, Sex Taboos and Risks

The original function of sex is biological reproduction but, due to its intimate nature and pleasurable rewards, sex often becomes caught up in societal entertainment. Pornography, BDSM, role playing and fetishes have all given sex a cultural place in the adult world. Yet sex-shopping centres and strip clubs are kept in the shadows and seen as taboo, which means illegal activities such as sex-trafficking often occur in this realm. The poster in this display originates in the 1990s, when social anxiety surrounding the AIDS epidemic was at its peak. Public health campaigns at this time focused on safe-sex, with frequent distribution of material promoting the use of contraception, consent and STI testing. These are just a few examples of the many taboos associated with sex, all of which ultimately make it a moral act as well as a biological one.

We recommend visiting the Museum of Sex in NYC, which has several exhibitions on the role of sex and erotica in society.