Like little Victorian curiosities, specimens of dead fish, frogs and snakes peek through behind crystalline vials. Unlike the stuffed birds and mounted deer heads of taxidermy, these specimens are transparent, offering a literal window into their skeletal structure "” enhanced by the rich reds, purples and blues that highlight their bones and cartilage.





First developed by scientists in 1977, the process of diaphonization is also referred to as clearing and staining after its dual mechanism of action. To render the animals transparent (the clearing), the specimens bathe in a soup of trypsin, a digestive enzyme that slowly breaks down their flesh. In addition, they soak in several batches of bone, muscle or cartilage stains (the staining) depending on the desired outcome, although the dyes alizarin red and alcian blue are most commonly used.





The results are at once visually striking and chemically intensive. Biologist Sadie Stednitz admitted, "The appeal of diaphonized specimens is that they are beautiful physical objects that also give us an appreciation for biology."

Chad Lowe // Sadie Stednitz

Stednitz is the owner of California based Studio Pollex, which sells diaphonized pieces along with the more familiar taxidermy. She noted, "I work primarily with animals [that are] available as dissection specimens: rats, mice, frogs, fish and snakes."





Nonetheless, not all creatures are suitable for the procedure. Large birds and mammals have feathers and fur, respectively, which get in the way and have to be removed. Other factors are also important.





"A large rat could take upwards of 6 months to complete, so time is a big consideration. The denser and larger the tissues, the longer it will take for any stains to reach them," explained Stednitz. "Anything that affects the chemistry of the dyes can [also] cause issues. For example, some dyes will only work in an acidic solution, and some animal tissues do not fare well in that kind of environment."





Rather, the technique is most often seen with specimens less than a foot in length. Thin skinned amphibians, fish and reptiles work especially well, although young mammals and birds are also suitable. Fetal organisms in particular, prove useful in the laboratory. With a crystal clear view of the subject's internal features, scientists can observe the direct impact of environmental pollutants on animals via deformities such as extra limbs. Furthermore, fetuses offer crucial insight into how these chemicals affect normal growth and development.

Chad Lowe // Sadie Stednitz

"Comparative anatomy is another application; if you want to visually demonstrate the evolutionary relationships between different species, the skeleton is a good place to start because it is easy to see how one body plan can be modified to suit many different tasks," Stednitz added. But despite its merits, diaphonization is not widely used in the field.





Advancements in imaging technology have rendered the practice all but obscure, though it is expanding as an art form with the establishment of Studio Pollex and the exposure of other diaphonists such as Iori Tomita, Brandon Ballengée and Adam Summers. Natural museums also house cleared and stained specimens, many of which are in ichthyology (fish) or herpetology (reptiles and amphibians) collections.





Meanwhile, Stednitz continues to balance art and science to find the ideal mix. "I have found that what makes a good scientific specimen is not necessarily what will make a good art piece, but there is a lot of intersection between the two. Visibility, color and presentation are important factors for both academic and artistic specimens," she said.





Indeed, the process of diaphonization blends art and science together so skillfully, reviving the dead with new life and color.