Over the previous 12 months and a half, I had the chance to take part within the UW-Madison Kohler Fellowship Program. On this program, an artist is paired with a scientist to create a science-art fusion challenge, some targets of which embrace fostering cross disciplinary communication and rising the accessibility of scientific ideas by way of artwork. Although I used to be accepted into this program as a science fellow, my accomplice, Sharon Tang, and I each take into account ourselves artist-scientists. Sharon is a PhD candidate within the Cell and Molecular Biology program and an avid muralist, whereas I’m a Genetics PhD candidate and composer/musician. Collectively we leveraged our scientific data and inventive experience to create “Genetic Symphonies: the constructing Hox of life”.
![A wooden podium has a music staff laser cut on the surface. The music staff bends and gradually transitions to a DNA double helix. On the music staff are 13 black buttons, with colored note stems. The podium reads “Genetic Symphonies: Building Hox of life” at the top left and contains a scannable QR code in the bottom left for users to obtain more information. A large rectangular speaker sits in the center of the podium with text to describe the installation to the right. The descriptive text reads: “Hox genes are important for development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Unlike other genes, Hox genes must be activated in a specific order (head to tail) for development to occur. In vertebrates, there are 13 groups of Hox genes, represented here as 13 “building blocks”. Can YOU orchestrate the development of a human by using the music note buttons to activate Hox genes in the correct sequence? Each button turns on a building block with light and music. Take note of the color of the button stem and listen for the number of instruments playing to help you find the correct order.”](https://thenode.biologists.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Podium-scaled.jpg)
As most developmental biologists know, Hox genes are transcription components important for patterning the skeletal axes. In addition they stay one in every of science’s largest mysteries; we nonetheless have but to find out what Hox genes truly regulate to manage developmental and grownup homeostatic processes. Along with the mysterious mechanisms of motion, Hox genes possess distinctive properties (clustered chromosomal association, spatio-temporal expression sample, regional restriction) that lend properly to inventive manipulation and exploration.
Sharon and I took benefit of those options to generate an interactive, multi-modal exhibit. In our exhibit, 13 paralogous teams of Hox genes are represented by 13 painted constructing blocks, affectionately known as “Hox bins”. Likewise, there are 13 color-coded, randomized, buttons that management every “Hox field” on an accompanying podium. Contributors should activate gene expression, by way of a button press, and decide the right order of Hox gene activation (head to tail). Every right button press produces mild within the corresponding field and sounds a singular measure of music. With every successive, right, button press individuals develop their very own genetic symphony and an summary human determine by way of lights. By conveying improvement by way of each mild and sound, we additionally improve the accessibility of our exhibit.
Wish to know extra about Genetic Symphonies: Constructing Hox of life? Take a look at Behind Building: Hox ! At this web site, you could find extra details about the development, fabrication, composition, and electronics of the exhibit.
![A large wooden panel is painted with green leaves and a river in the background. 13 painted, wooden boxes sit on top of the panel and are painted various colors to blend animals outlined with white lines, including an elephant, lizard, butterfly wing, squirrel, fish,and flamingo. Within all of the animals, a hidden, abstract human is lit up. This figure is reflected in the foreground on a tile floor.](https://thenode.biologists.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lights-on-500x761.jpg)
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