Seanome’s Values: 1. Unity is Biodiversity
Or, why we are all scientist-dancers
To me, biology is a spiritual experience. I had a stark out-of-body experience in high-school biology when learning about ribosomes. I looked at my hand taking the notes about ribosomes, and realized that the ribosomes in my hand were translating mRNA to protein in this very moment. Like astronauts seeing the blue marble of Earth from space, I had an overview effect, a pseudospiritual experience realizing that biology is not only all around us, but within us all.
To communicate the depth of Seanome’s mission, here is our first company value:
1. Unity is Biodiversity
We are all connected through our molecules — the DNA, amino acids, and metabolites shared across all living things. While traditional science segments and separates, the ocean contains four billion years of evolutionary wisdom, and the origins of our deepest connections. From innovative body plans to ancient immune systems, by studying one organism, we illuminate the beauty within us all. We find strength in these connections, bringing together diverse perspectives to unlock nature's most profound secrets.
This value is 100% stolen from Millennium Dance Complex, aka “the dance studio where stars are born.” All major artists like Britney Spears, Usher, Justins Timberlake & Bieber, Pink, Katie Perry, and more, come to Millennium to train their bodies and minds to retain and perform choreography. Millennium’s iconic wall showcases their motto, “UNITY IS DIVERSITY.” They intentionally changed it from “UNITY IN DIVERSITY”, because the “IS” makes a stronger statement, that unity is defined by diverse parts making a greater whole.
Above is my favorite choreographer at Millennium, Galen Hooks and her phenomenal RIVER piece. If you haven’t seen it, go watch now, then watch the inside look, and then binge some more Galen Hooks choreography (recommend Bury a Friend, Baiana, and Love on the Brain) before coming back. I’ll wait.
Why can we get chills from watching dancers on a screen from a different time and space? We are affected because of our shared humanity, feelings, and spirit, which transcend time and space.
As a dancer, I believe we are all dancers: we all love to move our bodies to music. Rites of passage across world cultures such as weddings, coming-of-age, and funerals, wouldn’t include dance if it didn’t deeply affect us to our core. Our unity as humans is inherent — we wouldn’t love to dance if we didn’t find connection in it. And we wouldn’t be so affected by watching dancers if we couldn’t feel the same emotions they are conveying through movement.
Millennium posted on Instagram about “Unity in Diversity” (below), where they acknowledge we need all people to build the future we want to see. Unity is not just about tolerance of differences but seeing ourselves as connected to each other as people, as humanity. The more we accept our connections, the easier it is to love, to forgive, and see the good in one another.
https://www.instagram.com/mdcdance/p/BHkNamIAgBF/
* Unity in Diversity *
is a concept of "unity without uniformity and diversity without fragmentation" that shifts focus from unity based on a mere tolerance of physical, cultural, linguistic, social, religious, political, ideological and/or psychological differences towards a more complex unity based on an understanding that difference enriches human interactions.
Similarly, I believe we are all scientists, innately curious about the living world. We watch birds, grow plants, and immerse ourselves in nature to relax. Parents see nature’s wisdom unfold before their eyes, astonished by how a helpless infant grows into their own person with unique hopes and aspirations. These transformations remind us of our deep connection to nature.
When we accept that “Unity is Biodiversity,” we acknowledge that biodiversity unifies nature. “Unity in Biodiversity” suggests that we are unified despite our differences, while “Unity is Biodiversity” suggests we are unified because of our differences and the interactions they create. The plants, animals, and microbes interacting in the ocean are what make the ocean the ocean — otherwise it would be a big, lifeless basin of water. The beauty of biology is that interactions between species are only possible because of our molecular commonality.
We are connected to all living things through our molecular machines. Trees have proteins, fish have carbohydrates, and mushrooms have DNA. No matter how large or small a living thing is, we are all built from the same building blocks, and I think that is so profoundly beautiful.
Learning how a cell works in one organism makes us better understand the cells in ourselves. By studying how Arctic Clams tolerate neurotoxins, we hope to cure human neurodegenerative disease. The connectedness of life flows through our shared biology, bringing us closer to nature and each other.
At Seanome, we build open-source genomic tools to democratize discovery to anyone with an internet connection. By connecting researchers worldwide through their common love of biology, we enable scientists to reveal hidden connections across species — from Arctic clams to humans. Each discovery reveals another layer of molecular choreography, each species expressing its part in nature's ancient dance.
Thanks to Claude for editing.
Quick note — We will be taking time off for the holidays, and will be back on Jan 7th, 2025.
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