The structure of the coronavirus is basically a spheroid with protein 'spikes' jutting out regularly along the surface to help the virus latch onto host cells, where it injects its DNA and does nasty virus things. Now, "scientists" have developed a novel way of studying the novel coronavirus--with MUSIC! The protein structure of the binding spikes (above) has been translated into a musical score with each amino acid in the sequence corresponding to a different musical note. This isn't all pure whimsy, don't you worry dear reader; searching this new musical score for specific sequences of notes can help identify potential antibody binding sites to assist in the subsequent destruction of the virus.
Why does this need to be done with music? Why take the time to set the score using the Japanese koto as the instrument of choice? Why stretch it out to make the entire thing almost two hours long? If it makes us happy, does it truly matter? Sometimes science can both do good and make us feel good at the same time. Stay healthy, my friends.
Ryan McRae
Potluck 4/14
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