"Jason Nelson. 2005. The bomar gene: fictiobiography, digiart, hypertext. In Proceedings of the 13th annual ACM international conference on Multimedia (MULTIMEDIA '05). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 1053-1054. DOI=10.1145/1101149.1101373 http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1101149.1101373" The Bomar Gene is a new media, digital fiction hybrid that explores the speculative concept that within us, the codes governing our bodies, is a single unique gene. This speculative gene gives each person an individualized ability, a singular talent. The work's nine sections chronicle through ficto-biographies how these abilities separate/isolate us from our cultural/physical landscape and yet reside us within those spaces the gene impacts. With each story and the accompanying interactive elements, the project explores how these genetically derived abilities consequently adjust our internal and external geographies. Through game, video, sonic and interactive interfaces, the ways these genes both locate and dislocate the characters are recreated/translated into aesthetic hypertexts. Our genetics build personal layers and our cultural response adds dimension. The Bomar Gene utilizes the layering of meanings, fiction over code over user invited exploration, to situate the user within the character's lives and genes. And the result is a space within spaces, the story of how our genetics effect the larger spaces around us. This project isn't as much about the science of genetics, as it is about human attributes and how those talents and internal deformities, reconfigure our relationship with "where we are".

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