The GEN-ODEON ~ Creating ‘DNA Music’
Concept by Michael Ricciardi [original notes/design: January 2003]
A software program with user interface that allows the selection of four musical tones (and
instruments) and pairing them with nucleotide base sequences (strings of the 4 letters-- C, G, A,
T-- used to designate the basic nucleotides that constitute our genetic "instructions") from
amongst hundreds of animals (including humans), and the playing back of these strings ‘solo’ or
multiple (any combination up to all four; four is the ‘track’ limit) to create DNA-based musical
compositions.
Note: the default 4-tone ‘scale’ is A= A natural, C=C natural, T=E natural [note: there is no 'T'
note in the western, diatonic scale], and G=G natural). These pairings can be additionally paired
(played back) with their respective DNA nucleotide compliment [A with E, C with G] which are
naturally harmonious pairs. But the possibility of arbitrary selection of note/nucleotide pairings
permits a far broader range of harmonic and dissonant ‘gene music’, and thus also a greater
spectrum of auditory comparisons.
This variable pairing/coding (which can also permit a 'random mutation' [sharped/flatted
musical note*] with the appearance of a specified sequence) allows genetic comparison in an
alternative mode of perception (hearing). The UI for this system will also allow for multiple
sequence playback simultaneously (like a multi-track player) which, apart from being
entertaining, allows for direct comparison of various species' nucleotide base 'strings' (similarities
and differences between species can be more readily discerned).
A user would be able to select up to four DNA strings and play one, two, three, or four strings
together. Even a young child would be able to discern the similarities and differences between
species through melody--simply by listening for them! A user would be able to determine, for
example, that a bottle-nosed dolphin is very closely related to an orca whale (and only somewhat
distantly related to a shark), by noting the verisimilitude of the strings.
Also, each letter (C, G, A, T) played in linear sequence would have its designated color coding-allowing the user to see (in a different mode than symbolic text) as well as hear the similarities
and differences between the species.
The interface would also possess a chimera function, that is, the ability for users to composite
various segments from different animals into a single 'chimerical composition', and play it back
(and save it to a composition database). A 'genetic symphony' can be constructed, as the interface
allows selection of different types of musical instruments for any given sequence, wherein each
instrument is a distinct genome [e.g., dolphin=flute, tree frog=clarinet, falcon=piano,
tarantula=guitar].
Note: in terms of comparison of genomes, nucleotide base sequences for each animal
should/would all be drawn from the same chromosome.
CONCEPT BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
There have been several other attempts to 'musicalize' DNA (or RNA), but these attempts, have
all been limited in some way; some utilized an arbitrary (and rigid/unchangeable) coding process,
and/or relied on 'interpretation' of the genome. Others have produced more ‘direct’ translation of
nucleotide sequences (via written scores or computer program), but were limited in terms of the
available range (the number of species, or genomes available) of sequences. Further, often the
result was ‘just’ music-- be it arbitrary, 'interpreted', or perhaps more ‘isomorphic’-- to be
purchased, played, and heard, that is, a consumer-type product. Interactivity and variability has
been severely limited.
Also, all previous attempts were not only relatively arbitrary, rigid, and limited in the selection
of possible nucleotide sequences, but also limited in the length of said sequences. The
GENODEON utilizes the Genome Assembly Archive as its source database, and the interface
will play the entire genome sequence (if decoded and available), or, only select chromosomes, if
desired. The archive is the recognized and primary repository of decoded animal genomes, and as
such is continuously updated.
The GENODEON possesses a far more creative user, (“friendly”) interface, wherein a user can
determine his/her own musical tones, construct his/her own 'mini genetic symphony', or
composition, and using multiple instrumentation.
The GENODEON allows for both a 'side by side' comparison of differing genomes (nucleotide
strings) and a 'build-it-yourself', chimera function wherein the mythical, multi-specie creature
becomes 'real' through digital-musical transformation. The GENODEON is designed to be a fun,
and expansive, creative tool that illustrates the endless variety of forms that are possible from a
limited (4 nucleotide bases/ 4 tones or chords) ‘vocabulary’ or scale. It is also, as a by-product,
uniquely educational.
NOTE: sequences to be used are either single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or transfer RNA (tRNA)
segments which possess the 't' nucleotide, as opposed to messenger RNA which utilizes urasil in
place of thymine.
* 'Sharps' and 'Flats' can be introduced as “random mutations”, that occur, for example, upon any occurrence of a triplet
[e.g., aaa, ttt, ccc, ggg], reverting back to the respective 'natural' once the triplet ends. These monomer runs of identical
nucleotide bases are also the most likely loci of transcription errors, both in nature, and in the laboratory.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT:
The Genodeon represents the fulfillment of this artist’s life-long engagement with both
Art and Science. Just as Nature utilizes a relatively simple code (or vocabulary) to create
an endless variety of forms, the proposed UI likewise permits near endless variety in
creative power within the confines of a limited musical ‘vocabulary’.
______________________________________________________________________________
Genome Assembly Archive (resource for genome nucleotide base sequences)
To bridge this gap, we have developed the Assembly Archive
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/assembly). The archive has been developed to store both
an archival record of how a particular assembly was constructed and the alignments of any set of
traces to a reference genome. Assemblies contained in this archive will be available in the
GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/index.html), DDBJ
(http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/), and EMBL (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl) databases, and all
underlying traces are required to be deposited in the Trace Archive.
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
Kenshi Hayashi and Nobuo Munakata-biochemists, National Cancer Research Institute, Tokyo,
Japan: Conversion of DNA sequences to music makes recognition of specific DNA patterns
easier, (Basically Musical, Nature, Vol. 310:96, 12 July, 1984); Compositions of gene music by N.
Munakata available at Gene Music and Sangen Studio (http://www.toshima.ne.jp/~edogiku/)
_____________________________________________________
TIMELINE of DNA/MUSIC experiments, research, and science- art collaborations:
http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/vol7/issue2/full/8/t6.html
Concept by Michael Ricciardi [original notes/design: January 2003]:
CONCEPT BACKGROUND & COMPARISON:
Since themed 1980’s, there have been attempts to 'musicalize' DNA (or RNA), but these
attempts, have all been limited in some way; some utilized an arbitrary (and rigid/unchangeable)
coding process, and/or relied on 'interpretation' of the genome. Others have produced more
‘direct’ translation of nucleotide sequences (via written scores or a computer program), but were
limited in terms of the available range (the number of species, or genomes, available) of
sequences. Further, often the result was ‘just’ music (be it arbitrary, 'interpreted', or perhaps more
‘isomorphic’)-- something to be purchased and heard, that is, a consumer-type product.
Interactivity, creativity, and variability, in my assessment, was/has been quite limited.
Also, all previous attempts were not only relatively arbitrary, rigid, and limited in the selection
of possible nucleotide sequences but also limited in the length of said sequences. The
GENODEON utilizes the Genome Assembly Archive as its source database, and the interface
will play the entire genome sequence (if decoded and available), or, only select chromosomes, if
desired. The archive is the recognized and primary repository of decoded animal genomes, and as
such is continuously updated.
The GENODEON possesses a far more creative user (“friendly”) interface, wherein a user can
determine his/her own musical tones, construct his/her own 'mini genetic symphony', or
composition, and select from multiple instruments.
The GENODEON allows for additional variation through ‘mutation’ of tones (via a sharped or
flatted tone upon the occurrence of specific repeat sequences), a 'side by side' comparison of
differing genomes (nucleotide strings), and a 'build-it-yourself', chimera function wherein the
mythical, multi-specie creature becomes 'real' through digital-musical transformation. The
GENODEON is designed to be a fun and expansive, creative tool that illustrates the endless
variety of forms that are possible from a limited (4 nucleic acid base/ 4 tone) ‘vocabulary’ or
scale. It is also, as a by-product, uniquely educational.