Credit: LOUIS BEC

Louis Bec, a member of the 'artificial-life art' movement, uses computer models to artificially evolve new virtual species from existing organisms. His fabulous zoomorphic forms include the Melaskunodousse shown here, which is evolved from several generic ancestors. The French biologist styles himself as the only zoosystematician in the world.

This computer image is one of nearly 300 works described in the book Kunst aus dem Labor [Art From the Laboratory] by Ingeborg Reichle (Springer, €49). The artworks analysed by Reichle range from Salvador Dali's Butterfly Landscape to Suzanne Anker's contemporary installations, which resonate so powerfully with genetics research.