Introducing Gene Music
Gene Music is auditory representation of sequences (DNA, RNA and proteins) and maps (chromosomes and genomes) trying to capture and convey diversity, beauty and mystery of life. It started as a simple rule of base-to-pitch assignments (G-C-T-A to re-mi-sol-la), extended to the pitch assignments of 20 amino acids, and evolved to incorporate large-scale characteristics of genomes. In short, I consider this to be joyful experimentation in the realm of extreme (often too much as tedious and boring) complexity of biological information that underlies "chaosmos" of life. Choices of genes and sounds fitting to the selected sequences and compositional arrangements depend mostly on my interest and taste, but most data for controlling synthesizers are derived from the logic of sequences themselves. In realizing gene music, my major impetus is the liberation from prevalent restrictions of "commonsense tonality" made of functional harmony, metrical rhythm, and 12-equal tuning. I believe it is important to recuperate and cultivate musicality beyond these bounds imposed and enforced by commercialism, mass media and educational institutions learning from various cultural traditions (to name some which invigorate my life, Japanese gagaku, nohgaku, gidayu, Ryukyuan kunkunshi, Javanese gamelan and Tibetan Buddhism chant) and also from natural musicians like birds, frogs, crickets and cicadas.

Algorithms for Gene Music Composition
A. DNA (or RNA) sequence
1. Original as shown below
2. Transpositions (Octave, Fifth, Fourth etc.)
B. Protein sequence
1. Original as shown below
2. Any scale preserving the linear order of amino acids (19-equal etc.)
3. Modulation of tempo, velocity and pan by local sequence composition
C. Genome and chromosome map
1. Wide-range GC contents are used as pitch contours
2. A gene or protein is expressed by one sound
3. Any performance style inspired by graphical maps

Gene Music Collection (GMCD05, 2002/04)
Tr01 Codon Table Song
Four sampled voices for bases and a six-percussion ensemble for corresponding amino acids. Each codon is followed by an amino acid starting from TTT (Phe) and ending with GGG (Gly) in the order of T, C, A, and G.
Tr02 Restriction Enzyme Catalog
Recognition sequences of 82 restriction enzymes ordered alphabetically.
Tr03 Nuclear Hormone Receptor P-box
P-box in an N-terminal zinc finger of nuclear hormone receptors is a six amino acid motif of CXXCXX involved in DNA binding. This is a collection of 81 P-box, majority of which have been found in the genome of nematode.
Tr04 Duet of AIDS
RNA sequence of trans-membrane regions of env genes of HIV1 and HIV2.
Tr05 Two Ways To Go
RNA and protein sequences of divergent regulon for the adaptive response to DNA alkylation in Bacillus subtilis. Going right is ada operon carrying overlapping adaA and adaB genes, and going left is alkA gene.
Tr06 Twelve Times High and Low
Cocaine-sensitive dopamine transporter protein sequence. Tempo is modulated according to the hydrophilicity profile and slows down at 12 hydrophobic segments where the protein goes through membrane layers.
Tr07 Courtship and Clocks
Protein sequences of Drosophila period (Harp) and Neurospora frequency (Clarinet) gene products. They are essential components of biological clocks and the former also controls the rhythm of mating songs.
Tr08 Chaotic Clocks
Sequences of frequency, period, and period-like protein of mouse. Tempo and loudness modulated according to amino acids compositions. The direction of pan is changed by the occurence of Trp residues.
Tr09 Gan Fighter's Song
p53 tumor suppressor gene and protein sequences. The protein is thought to be one of the guardians against carcinogenesis. Some base changes found in human skin cancer cells induced by solar-UV radiation are marked with blasts. "Gan" is cancer in Japanese.
Tr10 Human Chromosome 9
Running through a million base-pairs in a second using GC-content profile as melody of chorus, and each gene is represented by a percussion sound.
Tr11 Human Chromosome X
GC-content profile is used as melody of pipe, and each gene is represented by a percussion sound.
Tr12 Nocturne of Insects
Four sequences of mariner-type transposons of insects. Dedicated to Takuko Kai for her lifelong devotion to Shirokane kindergarten and conservation of urban environment.
Tr13 Umu Umu Song
Sequences of mRNA, UmuD and UmuC proteins of E. coli responsible for UV-induced mutation. Dedicated to the discoverer of the gene Takashi Kato on the occasion of his retirement from Osaka University.
Tr14 Who's Afraid of Alkylation
Three repair gene for DNA alkylation, AlkA, TagI, and TagII in B. subtilis. Dedicated to a pioneer in DNA repair study Bernard Strauss on his 70th birthday.
Tr15-18 Four Songs to Make a Worm
Protein sequences of four genes involved in morphogenesis of nematode C. elegans.
Tr19-22 Quartets of Flowering Genes
Flowering is regulated by successive changes of multimeric complexes of MADS-type transcription factors defining four fields: sepal (AP1, Ap2), petal (AP1, PI, AP3, SEP3), stamen (AP3, PI, AG, SEP3), and carpel (AG, SEP2, SEP3). The sequences are from Arabidopsis and some of them use 19-equal tuning in which Arg to Ile encompasses one octave.
Tr23-40 Eighteen Nonets on the Vanity of Life
A collection of eighteen human proteins related to various diseases and sufferings. Throughout, a solo instrument is accompanied by an eight-instrument ensemble with fixed pitch assignments. Tempo is increased by the encounter of acidic amino acids and decreased by basic ones. Loudness is increased in the region of low sequence complexity. Tuning is D-major Pytagorian. Choices of genes, sounds and imagery were inspired by James Joyce's Ulysses, Giacinto Scelsi's music and Adolf Woelfli's paintings.

Credits: Software; Max (Opcode), Vision (Opcode), MetaSynth (U&I), Cubase (Steinberg), Absynth (Native Instruments), Pluggo (Cycling'74). Hardware; SY99 (Yamaha), TG77 (Yamaha), VL1-m (Yamaha), Planet Earth (Emu), P55 (Roland), SE-50 (Boss), US-428 (Tascam) and Apple Macintosh computers.