ANTINATURAL SELECTION

VIRAL 2021

This is an aesthetic and conceptual research on the RNA mutations of the SARS-COV2 virus and its contagion rate, as a way of understanding the importance of viruses in the development of evolution and social consequences in human life.

 

As a basis for experimentation, the coding region for the protein of interest Surface glycoprotein (S) or Spike protein was selected from the RNA sequence of the novel coronavirus genome. This region was selected because the S protein is the one that interacts with the cellular receptor that allows the entry and infection of SARS-COV2 in human cells. A region of 40 amino acids (position 451-490) was selected, since this region presents a higher frequency of mutation according to a study where the available sequences of the spike protein (S) were analysed in the available databases (Guruprasad L., 2020). Mutations in these regions are related to changes in the effectiveness and virulence of SARS-COV2.

 

Sequence of 120 nucleotides. RNA (virus genome)

UAC CUG UAU AGA UUG UUU AGG AAG UCU AAU CUC AAA CCU UUU GAG AGA GAU AUU UCA ACU GAA AUC UAU CAG GCC

 GGU AGC ACA CCU UGU AAU GGU GUU GAA GGU UUU AAU UGU UAC UUU

 

Selected sequence of 40 amino acids (Translated from the 120 nucleotide sequence of RNA). A total of 18 possible amino acids

YLYRLFRKSNLKPFERDISTEIYQAGSTPCNGVEGFNCYF

 

From these mutations and taking the 18 amino acids as a starting point, a generative system was designed to simulate the contagions and the probability of mutation. The outputs for these pieces were digital, as executable evolutionary programs on the computer desktop and electronic sculptures that represent each cell with an RGB led in an 8x8x8 cube. The program for both is a totalistic and probabilistic cellular automaton that mimics a possible behaviour of infected cells in an organism.

 

 In a three-dimensional space, each cell has a total of 3 x 3 x 3 neighbours whose possible combinations are not taken into account. Rather, as in the game of life, it does a count of infected neighbouring cells.

 

If the cell is not infected, then it does not have the capacity to infect, but if in a space x there is a high number of infected cells (5 or more), there is a probability that a healthy cell will be infected (contagion force).

 

If a cell is infected, there is also a probabilistic mutation factor that is affected by external agents. In the case of digital pieces, it is the use of the computer (processing or movement of the mouse, for example), in the case of light sculpture it increases when someone speaks, coughs or blows near the piece (through a sensor).

 

If any of the infected cells mutated, then the mutation is represented by one of the 18 possible amino acids mentioned above.

 

The pieces begin with two or three infected cells that spread over time to the entire visualization and whose shapes and colors change. While infected cells can die, they do not have the ability to heal. When they die, they simply leave space for a healthy cell to occupy it again.