Genetic codes and music

Nigel Helyer of the University of Western Australia (Univesrity of Western Australia) and the university laboratory SymbioticA created the GeneMusiK project, which turns genetic codes into musical works and vice versa.

Attempts to turn the decoded DNA sequences into notes were made earlier. But the authors of the project claim that for the first time such work “went so far.”The creators of GeneMusiK not only developed mathematical algorithms for transforming genetic codes into musical compositions, but also carried out the opposite transformation – they learned to turn notes into DNA strands.

Any melody can serve as a model for the synthesis of artificial DNA. After such a synthesis, biologists introduce a fragment of the “musical” code into the genes of bacteria, breed them in test tubes.

And then – after a series of stages of reproduction and mutations – again carry out the decoding of the genetic code and convert it into notes that are already different from the original.

Such entries are the authors of the project called “musical forms that have mutated in a biological context.”

This story does not end with a piece of music. The authors propose to sell such “melodies” as original jewelry.

These are miniature test tubes with cultures carrying the “musical” code in their genes. Apparently, the tubes will be embedded in brooches or rings.

Also, a CD with a recording of the composition developed by the bacteria and, of course, a certificate of authenticity is attached to the “decorations”.