Real-time audio and visual display of the Coronavirus genome

Background: This paper describes a web based tool that uses a combination of sonifcation and an animated display to inquire into the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The audio data is generated in real time from a variety of RNA motifs that are known to be important in the functioning of RNA. Additionally, metadata relating to RNA translation and transcription has been used to shape the auditory and visual displays. Together these tools provide a unique approach to further understand the metabolism of the viral RNA genome. This audio provides a further means to represent the function of the RNA in addition to traditional written and visual approaches. Results: Sonifcation of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA sequence results in a complex auditory stream composed of up to 12 individual audio tracks. Each auditory motive is derived from the actual RNA sequence or from metadata. This approach has been used to represent transcription or translation of the viral RNA genome. The display highlights the real-time interaction of functional RNA elements. The sonifcation of codons derived from all three reading frames of the viral RNA sequence in combination with sonifed metadata provide the framework for this display. Functional RNA motifs such as transcription regulatory sequences and stem loop regions have also been sonifed. Using the tool, audio can be generated in real-time from either genomic or sub-genomic representations of the RNA. Given the large size of the viral genome, a collection of interactive buttons has been provided to navigate to regions of interest, such as cleavage regions in the polyprotein, untranslated regions or each gene. These tools are available through an internet browser and the user can interact with the data display in real time. Conclusion: The auditory display in combination with real-time animation of the process of translation and transcription provide a unique insight into the large body of evidence describing the metabolism of the RNA genome. Furthermore, the tool has been used as an algorithmic based audio generator. These audio tracks can be listened to by the general community without reference to the visual display to encourage further inquiry into the science

CoronaCode Music

This recording is directly related to Mark Temple’s research ‘Temple, M. D. (2020). Real-time audio and visual display of the Coronavirus genome. BMC Bioinformatics, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-020-03760-7’. He took the science audio generated from his paper into a music studio setting to compose and add performances by musicians to the science audio. This performance was an innovative mashup of science audio with musicians to communicate the science in a non-traditional way

Performance at Science Meets Art, an Evening of Sonification and Music

This performance is directly related to Mark Temple’s research ‘Temple, M. D. (2020). Real-time audio and visual display of the Coronavirus genome. BMC Bioinformatics, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-020-03760-7’. He took the science audio generated from his paper into a music performance setting to discuss and share the ideas more widely. This performance was an innovative mashup of science audio with musicians to communicate the science in a non-traditional way

A viral hit? : the sequence of coronavirus makes surprisingly lovely music

Using music to represent the coronavirus sequence gives us a new way to think about and understand the genome. All my life I’ve been involved in music and molecular biology. At the crossroads between science and art, I see great scope for insight. I devised an online tool to hear the sound of coronavirus doing two things most genomes do: the first is called “translation”, which is where the virus makes new proteins. The second is called “transcription”, which is where the genome of the virus copies itself

Twenty years later, the evolution of origami DNA

Twenty years ago Trends in Biochemical Sciences published an innovative origami template for modeling the DNA double helix. Presented here are adaptations of this, including a chemical structure designed for transparent acetate, plus hybrid DNA/RNA, RNA hairpin, and single-stranded models. These models are useful teaching tools for understanding the 3D structure of DNA

Molecular Music: The Sounds of Coronavirus

Is it possible to see (or listen to) Coronavirus in a different way and not think of it as a global pandemic? Dr Mark Temple, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology at Western Sydney University, has done that! As a scientist, Mark began turning the Coronavirus genes into music by assigning each genetic letter contained within SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to a computer generated musical note. And this has resulted in an animation installation featuring the sonification of the coronavirus genome showcasing the creation of beautiful sounds out of something destructive. This animation installation was featured on The Joan’s AV wall in our Atrium Foyer in April 2021 for passers-by to listen to the sound of Coronavirus and to discover how sonification of the coronavirus genome can create beautiful sounds. Molecular Music: The Sound of Coronavirus by Dr Mark Temple is presented by Nepean Science Hub and The Joan as part of Penrith Performing & Visual Arts for their Art + Science Program with support from Inspiring Australia and Western Sydney University’s School of Science

Composing with DNA Sequences for Science Exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral

These sequence-generated audio tracks were included as part of an exhibition called ‘Science’ at Lichfield Cathedral (UK), 19th – 30th August 2021, and it ran as a 20 min ambient audio track overlayed with various readings from famous scientists. For this project, Mark's sonified DNA sequences were voiced as a pizzicato quartet playing the MIDI which slowly gets more complex and layered as the tempo increases

International Strange Music Day: Coronacode Music

In celebration of International Strange Music Day on Monday 24 August, I have produced a musical composition using the computer-generated musical notes from the coronavirus genome. DNA is a long, string-like molecule made up of repeating G, A, T and C bases. When you think about it, these bases can easily be converted into a long sequence of musical notes. By replicating the pattern of a DNA sequence in an audio format, I found that it’s possible to hear mutations in the gene sequence that might not be obvious by visual inspection alone. I have continued to experiment with sonification - creating a wide range of musical renditions and melodies that convey the information content of a DNA sequence and more recently the coronavirus RNA sequence. I have twice performed at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts centre playing music inspired by the DNA sonification. To celebration of International Strange Music Day I went into the studio to play drums with guitarist Mike Anderson and of course the music generated from the coronavirus genome. This is what we came up with..., to me, it sounds a little like ‘math rock’. It can be accessed via: https://marktemple.bandcamp.com/track/coronacode-music and https://youtu.be/2sG9O300Oz

Code: Sci-Fi Meets Reality

Supported by Inspiring Australia (NSW), Sci-Fi LAB @ The Joan presents four compelling Friday nights of sci-fi cult classic film screenings followed by cutting-edge research, guest talks, performances and installations to keep the tradition of sci-fi alive. 6 October 2017, Movie: The Fly (1986). Talk: Sonifying DNA: What does DNA sound like? by Dr Mark Temple (Western Sydney University Observatory), Performance collaboration: Dr Mark Temple, Dr Paul Smith and Ryan McGoldrick

Sonification of Critically Endangered Native Plants and Generative Music Made from Myrtle Rust Genomic Data

Sonification of Critically Endangered Native Plants is an installation, which is a collaboration between Savannah van der Veer and Mark Temple. This will feature a keyboard and Eurorack modular synthesizer to sonify Scrub turpentine (Rhodamnia rubescens) and Native guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides), which are both critically endangered Australian native plants. Data readings from the plant are used to control the parameters of the musical instrument in interesting ways. Generative Music Made from Myrtle Rust Genomic Data: In this project, raw computer generated DNA audio is used as if it were music made by a guest musician in a rehearsal room. The challenge for the live musicians is to play along to this strange computer generated (sonified) audio. Music was composed in response to the sonified audio of the Myrtle Rust genome. This will be performed at the exhibition opening. Each track prominantly features the science audio to create a musical landscape over which the musicians performed. The science audio itself has a shifting sense of rhythm, abstract and non-repeating melodies and it lacks traditional song structure