Because science is understanding the art of Nature, step by step, research after research.

Presentation of the DNA of MUSIC project

The purpose of the project: create scientific curiosity

We want to communicate scientific notions through music and visual arts so as to draw audience into a process of scientific awareness aimed at creating desire for knowledge.

This is how we hope to kindle in people the desire to search for information based on scientific literature.


The birth of the idea

Each organism is unique and each has specific characteristics which are reported and translated by DNA, a long and complex molecule that conceals within itself the enormous diversity of genetic codes.

And what if it was possible to play the genetic code of a living being as if it was a musical score?

It may sound strange, but you don’t have to be the Almighty or a mad scientist to be able to answer these questions.

As a matter of fact, in 2018, during a congress in Norway, the biologist Andrea Desiderato discovered that it is possible to convert DNA into exact musical notes. In other words, each of us, each animal or blade of grass, has some “music” within, in fact their own pieces of music.


The musical and figurative research

Struck by this idea and thanks to the production of Cultural Association Clabs, Desiderato has brought together young professionals from different artistic fields with the aim of taking science off the books and out of laboratories to spread it among people!

No darkness or magic here… actually there is nothing more scientific and artistic at the same time!


The method

An algorithm converts DNA fragments into notes which are then harmonized by a composer whose job is to make sure that the result sounds pleasant to the human ear. Then figurative and narrative research comes into play so as to create relevant texts and videos able to awaken the feelings and emotions which can be found in each of us!


DNA Sonification

The DNA of music project was made possible thanks to the work and site of DNA Sonification of Dr. Mark Temple of Western Sydney University.

At this link it will be possible to listen to his sonification project of the Corona Virus: https://marktemple.bandcamp.com/album/coronacode-music-2 

Here you can read the scientific publication directly: https://bmcbioinformatics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12859-017-1632-x


SONIFY SPECIES

The portal aims to transmit basic scientific information while sonifying the unique and specific characteristics reported in the DNA of the organisms.

The process, which translates DNA sequences into musical compositions, begins with an intricate method called individual mapping. This phase focuses on converting the genetic information of a single organism into a musical score, offering a novel way to appreciate biodiversity through the interplay of science and art.

Discover more www.sonifyspecies.com