EXHIBITION ON PRESERVED HUMAN BODIES IN SINGAPORE

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Plastination, a method of halting
decomposition and preserving the body after death for medical study, has made
its Asian debut in the republic.

An enthralling exhibition on human bodies preserved by plastination was held
at the Singapore Science Centre here Wednesday night.

Renowned German scientist Gunther von Hagens, who invented plastination, is
the man behind the exhibition, 'BODY WORLDS: The Original & The Cycle of Life'.

It was officially launched by Singapore's National Development Minister Mah
Bow Tan.

The exhibition, which had a successful world premiere in London recently,
has a display of 200 authentic exhibits including organs, body slices
and whole bodies donated by donors that have undergone plastination.

It captures the life of a human cycle or development from the point of
sexual copulation to the formation of embryos and foetuses, to a life born, the
phases of growing up from youth to adulthood, to old age and death.

The exhibition displays minute details of the anatomy, including muscles,
bones and blood vessels, physiology and effects of lifestyle choices on the
human body through the scientific and enlightening display of whole bodies,
separate organs and transparent body slices.

The exhibition which also displays some anatomies of several animals such as
horse and giraffe, will be held until March 6, next year.
-- BERNAMA