NIMBioS Combines Math and Biology with Music

Todd Steed (host): The NIMBioS project, tell me about that.
Jay Clark: Yeah. NIMBioS stands for the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis.
And they are funded through the National Science Foundation. And they are also funded through the Department of Defense and a couple of other things.
But they are located here on campus.
Todd Steed: And you wrote a song for them.
Jay Clark: Yeah. They have a songwriter in residence program. They had some sort of outside grant and that Lou Gross had put together.
For mending the arts and sciences together. And instead of having someone come in together as a painter or drawer
He is a big time music fan, and long time sound guy over at the Laurel Theater, so he wanted to do a songwriter in residence.
So the deal with that is you come in for a month and you write two songs that deal with modern issues and biology.
Or the scientists that do the research. and it is a different topic as you will hear from the song that I wrote.
That particularly song is called Sexual Selection.
And it is about evolutionary theory, related to how we choose our mates.
Most species the males are the ones that do all the displaying whether it be the antlers, birds singing...
Todd Steed: Camaros...
Jay Clark: Yeah, Camaros. And as we know, us men, can act really stupid trying to hook up with some gal sometime...
Todd Steed: I have no idea what you are talking about.
Jay Clark: Nature is perfect evidence of that when it comes to a lot of different animals.
(Music Starts)
Life's a struggle, it's a compromise between finding someone to love and trying to survive
Sex is complicated and it's a powerful thing. It's not just about hooking up
but about spreading your genes
Sexual Selection...it's all about choosing a mate, Sexual Selection...cuz we all want to copulate
Improve our fitness proliferation of our genes, sexual selection...it's more than just a sexual thing.
A woman must to choose wisely Cause her eggs don't come cheap
She's always looking for a sexy male that will help the survival of her offspring
Cause sexy males equal sexy sons And all the girls will want to get them some00:02:49 And there'll be lots sexy grandchildren running around... And her fitness will abound...
Sexual Selection...it's all about choosing a mate, Sexual Selection...we all want to copulate
Improve our fitness, Proliferation of our genes
Sexual Selection...it's more than just a sexual thing
Antlers...bright colors Displays and swollen chests
They separate the men from the boys They're all traits meant to impress
You know a man will act a fool to catch a woman's eye.
He'll strut his stuff and sing his song in hopes that he'll get lucky that night
Sexual Selection...it's all about choosing a mate, Sexual Selection...cuz we all want to copulate
Improve our fitness, proliferation of our genes00:04:00 Sexual Selection...it's more than just a sexual thing
Promiscuity is a tendency.Especially for man.So, a woman has to play hard to get,and try to force his hand.00:04:20 Polygamy, monogamy, why can't we all get along
You see the battle of the sexes
Just keeps going on and on...and on
Sexual Selection...it's all about choosing a mate, Sexual Selection...we all want to copulate
Improve our fitness, Proliferation of our genes00:04:54 Sexual Selection...it's more than just a sexual thing(repeat chorus).