Science versus Art: The Music of Genes

Dr Mark Temple is a molecular biologist from School of Science at Western Sydney University. Mark uses audio for DNA sequence analyses. As a former musician who played drums with Indie rock band The Hummingbirds, Mark used computer code to make audio sequences from DNA sequences. This was done by mapping genetic letters and overlapping DNA patterns into layers of computer-generated musical notes.

The audio is a direct representation of the DNA sequences in which you can hear the sound of genes. Mark pas performed musical sonification of the Coronavirus genome previously at City Recital Hall and Cell Block Theatre (National Art School)

At this event, Mark will be making music from the DNA sequence of the Myrtle Rust genome. Myrtle rust is a plant pathogen causing devastation in Australian native plants along the east coast of Australia.

Mark has extended his science ideas into the artistic space and is now treating the science audio as form of music. The music of DNA sequences can be repetitive, melodic, or chaotic depending on whether it’s a gene sequence or another region of DNA being sonified. The audio data is captured and assigned to various instruments to create a musical landscape. At the event these musical landscapes will form the backing track to which a range of musicians will play to the sound of myrtle rust genes.

There will be a full ensemble performance of music to accompany the science audio, performed by the aptly named “Biological Exploding DNA Sequence Inevitable” featuring

Mark Temple – Drums and Biological Sequences (Hummingbirds, Academic Western)
Cameron Emerson Elliott – Guitar (Youth Group, Victoria, Community Radio)
Bridget Chappell – Cello (aka Hextape)
Dr Michael Bain – Synthesiser (Academic UNSW)
Paul Scott – Bass (Montana, Pop Mechanix and ‘The Insufferable Paul Scott’)
Media quotes about the DNA sonification:

“this is just amazing” NPR
“beautiful and ethereal music” New Scientist
“turned the coronavirus genome into a musical masterpiece” Science Line
“as cool as it sounds” 3MBS Fine Music
“surprisingly lovely music” The Conversation
“a unique composition” Limelight magazine
“surprisingly chirpy, certainly melodic” The Wire (2SER)

Bridget Chappell
Also appearing will be Bridget ChappellBridget (aka Hextape) is an award-winning artist working across dance music, contemporary cello, hacked sound technology, ungovernable space, hydrology, and literature. They DJ and produce music as Hextape, create data-informed sound installations, write essays and poetry, and leave a trail of rave breadcrumbs wherever they go. Most recently their album ‘>:)’ (Powertrip, 2022) explores the musicality of MRIs and received