ZDoggMD: The Rapper Doctor October 5, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Fun, Medicine, Music, Video, Web 2.0.5 comments
I just came across ZDoggMD and had to watch some of his videos which are absolutely fantastic! But I’m speechless now…
Anyway, who is this genius?
I’m a hospital physician and a purveyor of fine medical satire. I strive to practice evidence-based comedy…everything on this site has been clinically proven to be slightly funnier than placebo.
Sounds of HIV October 5, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in DNA, Fun, Music, science.8 comments
A few months ago, Alexandra Pajak, a graduate student at the University of Georgia contacted me about an album of music based on the DNA of the HIV virus she was about to release. I feel lucky that the album is just on its way to my CD player right now. You can buy the album on Amazon (release date: 26, October). Note that some of the proceeds will go to the Emory Vaccine Center, which conducts research for an HIV vaccine. If you wonder how it was made, here is the explanation:
Sounds of HIV is a musical translation of the genetic code of HIV, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Every segment of the virus is assigned music pitches that correspond to the segment’s scientific properties. In this way, the sounds reflect the true nature of the virus. When listening from beginning to end, the listener hears the entire genome of HIV.
In English, the nucleotides Adenine, Cytosine, Uracil/Thymine, and Guanine are abbreviated with the letters A, C, T, and G. Since A, C, and G are also musical pitches in the Western melodic scale, these pitches were assigned to the matching nucleotides. To form two perfect fifths (C-G and D-A), “D” was arbitrarily assigned to musically represent Uracil. I assigned the pitches of the A minor scale to the amino acids based on their level of attraction to water.
On “Sounds of HIV,” depending on the track, only nucleotides and/or amino acids “play” as music. Tracks 1 and 10 are based on the first and last nucleotides of the RNA chain. Tracks 2-9 “play” the proteins and sometimes the nucleotides on top of the proteins.
Hospital Music Videos December 5, 2009
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Fun, Music, Video.3 comments
Do you remember the music video with the title Breathe? I wrote about it a few months ago. Their name is The Laryngospasms and they have an own website where you can download other songs as well like the Fractured Femur.
Here are other “pop classics”:
Update: Many thanks to Denton Shanks for the other tips:
Breathe: Doctors with Microphone September 21, 2008
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Fun, Medicine, Music, Video.2 comments
No comment:
Ok, just a short note. Their name is The Laryngospasms and have an own website where you can download other songs as well like the Fractured Femur.
(I found it on Gruntdoc who found on Kevin, MD who found it on EverythingHealth)
How to promote a university? May 22, 2007
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in About me, Humor, Medical education, Medicine, Music, Policy and Law, Video.2 comments
Here are two promotional videos about my university (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine) where foreign students (many of my friends) talk about the education, facilities, parties and the community. If you would like to have fun, compare the videos (the first is created for parents, the second is for students):
Musical geniuses, pregnancy mystery, virtual genomic counseling and medical reviews of House, MD March 6, 2007
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in genetics, Health, Invention, Medicine, Music, Pregnancy, science.2 comments
I’ve got plenty of links for today:
Music under the microscope: the relation between biology and genetics and human music, its peculiarities and reasons. These are the main themes of the International Workshop on the Biology and Genetics of Music, to be held in Bologna, May 20 to 22, with leading scientists currently involved in researching the mysteries of music.
A Deakin University study has unlocked one of the many mysteries of pregnancy : how the trace element copper is transported across the placenta… The results provide a target for further research into a range of conditions that are believed to be related to copper metabolism such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation.
The PBS television station KQED in San Francisco recently aired a very thoughtful segment comparing online genomic counseling through DNA Direct to traditional face-to-face counseling via UCSF.
- Great reviews of the medical series: House, MD:
And at last, a short interview of various 1st year residents (interns) featuring music by They Might Be Giants – Am I Awake.
Genetics News February 1, 2007
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in About me, Blogroll, genetics, Health, Invention, Medicine, Music, Prevention.2 comments
Here is my list of the most interesting articles in the field of genetics from the past days:
Dancers show consistent differences in two key genes from the general population: two genes that provide the code for the serotonin transporter and arginine vasopressin receptor 1a. The dancer “type,” clearly demonstrates qualities that are not necessarily lacking but are not expressed as strongly in other people: a heightened sense of communication, often of a symbolic and ceremonial nature, and a strong spiritual personality trait.
A new bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would prohibit employers from making hiring/firing and promotional decisions based on genetic information showing a worker may contract a disease in the future, and would also prevent health plans from denying coverage or charging higher premiums using those same genetic tea leaves.
Scientists say the manipulation of a single gene, called Pten, boosted bone density in mice. This research may help in the development of new treatments for osteoporosis and bone fractures.
While US hospitals are reputed to be the most advanced in the world, only in China can patients receive gene therapy, widely believed to be the most promising innovation in cancer treatment. How a German-born businessman turned to China and a controversial gene treatment to tackle his cancer?
And some little facts about my life:
- I got back to work on the English Wikipedia after my exam period (with new plans on reorganizing the medicine collaboration of the week)
- Scienceroll breaks its own stat records (more tan 230 visitors, 350 page views, 36 feed readers in one day).
- I’ve sent a letter to Scienceblogs.com to request for feedback. I’m curious about their opinion on my blog.
- And after the succes of Fighting cancer with video games, I asked HopeLab to let me translate their game into Hungarian as our clinics would use it treating children with leukaemia.
Top 10 musics for working December 23, 2006
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in About me, Humor, Music.5 comments
I always listen to music when I’m learning. It’s important to reach a mentally deep state where you can concentrate perfectly. But I only use acoustic musics like original soundtracks.
Now, I show you my top 10 list, and I’m curious about yours, so write about your favourite musics used for working.
- Solaris: the best OST ever, such as the film itself.
- Lemony Snicket (Thomas Newman): long, funny and relaxed music.
- Catch Me If You Can (John Williams): mainly in Christmas time.
- The Village (James N. Howard): The most horroristic, most mysterious music.
- The Fifth Element (Eric Serra): I’ve been using it for 6 years now, the real veteran OST for me.
- Gangs of New York (Howard Shore): The most powerful OST.
- Artificial Intelligence (John Williams): When I need dynamics.
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (John Williams): I like the magic and the ambience behinde this OST.
- American Beauty (Thomas Newman): When I’m in deep trouble, then I choose this.
- The Godfather (Nino Rota): When I need confidence.
