Leaning on the results of the Netnography, Scientific illustration serves as a comparative ​method for further exploration, grounded in empirical analysis. Through the comparison ​of AI-generated illustrations of foetuses to those by humans, this method offers an ​evaluation of AI's technical capabilities in this field.

Scientific illustrations of foetuses intend to accurately depict various stages of foetal development, enhancing the ​understanding of developmental biology for a variety of audiences (students, expecting parents, medical ​professionals, etc.) (Baigrie, 1997). They offer visual support for the physiological changes occurring during various ​stages of gestation. However, in many cases, they contain inaccuracies or simplifications that distort our ​understanding of foetal development. These misrepresentations remain influential and perpetuate outdated or ​incorrect views (Hopwood, 2020).

A poignant example is the controversial work of German biologist Ernst Haeckel. Between 1868 and 1908, Haeckel ​produced illustrations of embryological stages of vertebrates which he manipulated to fit his hypothesis (Hopwood, ​2020). Haeckel aimed to demonstrate that all vertebrates share a common ancestor, adhering to the concept that ​‘ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny’, suggesting that embryonic development mirrors evolutionary history.

Image source: Paul D. Stewart, available at: ​https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530041-200-how-fudged-embryo-​illustrations-led-to-drawn-out-lies/

This idea was soon disproved, but Haeckel's drawings persisted in educational materials, despite criticism dating ​back to the 1870s. The drawings were copied, reinterpreted, and used in textbooks in the U.K. and the U.S. post-​WWII (Hopwood, 2020). This example shows the profound impact of scientific illustrations on scientific thought.

The realm of scientific illustration is not only to accurately depict physical features, but also to showcase a diverse ​set of representations which accurately reflect the genetic heterogeneity of populations. This is exemplified by the ​image below, which provoked debates in 2021. This arose from a noticeable absence of black foetus depictions in ​mainstream media and western educational material (Ibe, 2021).

Image source: Chidiebere Ibe, available at: ​https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/09/health/black-fetus-medical-illustration-​diversity-wellness-cec/index.html

Historically, foetal illustrations have primarily depicted Caucasian features, neglecting the representation of ​diversity in human development and reinforcing racial biases. This illustration challenges these biases and ​emphasises the importance of inclusive representation in scientific illustration, impacting how various ​communities relate to and understand information (Zanon et al., 2021).

The inaccurate portrayal of foetuses in scientific illustrations has significant social and political implications. Overly ​detailed or mature representations of early-stage foetuses have historically been strategically used in political and ​ideological battles over abortion rights (Petchesky, 2021). These representations are often isolated from the ​context of the female body and needs. The portrayal of the foetus as a separate, autonomous being underpins ​arguments for foetal personhood, which has been instrumental in driving restrictive abortion laws and policies. ​The cultural and political use of these images creates a powerful visual rhetoric that influences public opinion and ​policy, often without adequate consideration of the scientific accuracy or ethical implications of such ​representations (Petchesky, 2021).

The emergence of AI-generated art introduces a novel dimension to this debate. As in the results of the ​netnography conducted on the r/medicalillustration subreddit, illustrators acknowledge that while AI may assist in ​certain tasks such texturing or filling gaps in animation, the nuanced understanding and interpretation required in ​medical illustration remain firmly in the human domain. They believe that AI should be viewed as a ​complementary tool rather than a replacement, as there is a unique value of human expertise in accurately ​representing complex medical and scientific concepts.

Should AI create scientific illustrations, inaccuracies would be perpetuated. AI systems rely on the data they are ​trained on, which, if it includes inaccurate or biased depictions of foetal development, is likely to perpetuate these ​inaccuracies in its own creations. For example, if the training data contains Haeckel's embryological drawings or ​other flawed scientific illustrations, it may generate images that inaccurately represent foetal development stages, ​reinforcing misconceptions.

We have carried out out this experiment using a variety of prompts:

Source: Dall-E

In this example, the model claims this illustration is ‘scientifically accurate and suitable for educational purposes ​like a biology textbook’.

With more detailed prompts for the various stages of foetal development, the algorithm produces similar results, ​irrespective of accuracy, whilst claiming they are scientifically accurate:

Source: Dall-E

The model produces similar results when prompted to produce an image of an embryo in the womb at 3 weeks:

Source: Dall-E

For reference, this is a scientific illustration of an embryo in the womb at 4 weeks, provided by the NHS website:

Source: NHS, available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/pregnancy/week-by-​week-guide-to-pregnancy/1st-trimester/week-4/

Illustration process video

Foetus in womb at 35 weeks

Embryo and foetus at various stages of development

Word count: 764

References:

Baigrie, B.S. ed., 1996. Picturing knowledge: Historical and philosophical problems concerning the use of art in ​science. University of Toronto Press.

Hopwood, N., 2020. Haeckel's Embryos: images, evolution, and fraud. University of Chicago Press.

Ibe, C. (2021). A viral image of a Black fetus is highlighting the need for diversity in medical illustrations. CNN. ​Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/09/health/black-fetus-medical-illustration-diversity-wellness-​cec/index.html.

Kaur, H. (2021). A viral image of a Black fetus is highlighting the need for diversity in medical illustrations. [online] ​CNN. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/09/health/black-fetus-medical-illustration-diversity-wellness-​cec/index.html.

Petchesky, R.P., 2021. Fetal images: The power of visual culture in the politics of reproduction. In The Medicalization ​of Obstetrics (pp. 361-390). Routledge.

Zanon, T., Mendes, M., Jasmin, A., Ghiasi, G. and Tajmel, T., 2021. Who Gets The Picture? Diversity In Canadian ​Science and Physics Textbooks. Physics in Canada, 77(1).