COVID-19 Genetic Code Turned into NFT Music Collection

A group calling itself Viromusic has turned the genetic sequence of COVID-19 into ambient music.

The collection of 10,000 individual tracks are available as a non-fungible token (NFT). Each unique track covers a different part of the sequence and he songs were created using a technique called “DNA Sonification.”

The process takes DNA’s repeating structure of string-like molecules and turns them into musical notes. A DNA molecule is made up of four letters: G, A, T, C. These letters, in turn, form three-letter structures called codons. Using computer software, Viromusic engineers then assigned each codon a musical note to produce the track.

Interested buyers can browse the whole collection on Rarible, a marketplace specializing in NFT collections. Each track starts at 0.07 ETH (around $280 USD at the time of this writing) and comes with information about which track corresponds to which part of COVID-19’s sequence. They also come with information on how the virus uses that specific sequence.

“The idea for this collection was born from an awe of the beauty in the code of life. We hope this project helps to raise awareness that even a virus capable of inflicting such misery is fundamentally based on the same code as every living thing on each,” the project creators write on their website.

NFTs are a relatively new technology allowing buyers to collect digital items that are recorded on the blockchain.