Swine flu has been sequenced. \u00a0More out of curiosity than anything else, I wrote code to translate a key gene into a piece of ambient music:<\/p>\n
“Swine Flu Hemagglutinin” (MP3)<\/a><\/p>\n The algorithm I used is a bit complicated, but just in case you’re curious: since the gene is expressed as a surface protein antibodies can sense, it’s considered as a string of amino acids. \u00a0Each beat corresponds to one amino acid, and the piece is in 3\/4 time, so each six measures would correspond to five turns around the alpha structure. \u00a0(I’m weaseling because I haven’t the foggiest idea how the protein actually gets folded.) \u00a0Amino acids with side chains that are neither aromatic not aliphatic control the piano and organ: the nine non-hydrophobics the piano, and the four hydrophobics the organ. The three amino acids with aliphatic side chains control the low synthesizer, while the four with aromatics control the percussion. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u05e9<\/p>\n