--- title: Despacito Biology Remix Goes Viral description: Learn everything you need to know about evolutionary biology in this science-themed a cappella take on the song of the summer. canonical: https://time.com/5007692/science-despacito-remix/ author: Raisa Bruner article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-11-02T20:57:16.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:48:27.711Z og:title: This "Despacito" Remix Is Going Viral For a Good Reason og:description: It's the science-themed a cappella version you didn't know you needed og:url: https://time.com/5007692/science-despacito-remix/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9b0e8c22f0e15d7/6988e45fab6d777cb36b0773/dividing-cells.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4500 og:image:height: 2531 og:image:alt: Dividing cells on colorful background, 3D illustration og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This "Despacito" Remix Is Going Viral For a Good Reason twitter:description: It's the science-themed a cappella version you didn't know you needed twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd9b0e8c22f0e15d7/6988e45fab6d777cb36b0773/dividing-cells.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This 'Despacito' Remix Is Going Viral For a Wonderful Reason > Sponsored content. 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It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0f746048-0b56-4374-9a1d-256816dc95f0&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1)  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Nov 2, 2017 8:57 PM UTC  SSUCv3H4sIAAAAAAAEAH1SQW6DMBC8V+ofkM9BxRhC0hf00lOPUQ+OvcAqgJG9pKoi/l4bQuVccvPM7Kx31r69viQJO0uHir0nt4A8xq6bHFlJaAZP892dB41kLMrOk1ng5kVhjiRNDlzUgufC1h6LzXvGxpFRl7E1ZGJByeFB+L9Nw2gc0sK7B8GC7B1hD3Gf2pd1KGNqNIMuY6drJyKwy32BP0YhlCRofLqHGNtmTitONuE+OXmJfYDsqFXSwtun35Dy69lFVW46hyq2UfPuSa8vhTAoeN5gPXxvoWTjLb9h6DmKY6EDub7JaS1llx+fvV/i3YuuqMFEWE4aTRT/anyaYBBR59GiwqGJbIZasBFW/veYPiIGQ8skbA3GtN91gFzw4ihEkR+yjOcZFwXbfpR/IdTxrKiDA6qy3GeHMs2qKk+Lal+kxz0XKchDXdaZqLgAv6n5Dz6QGvbZAgAA SSUCv3H4sIAAAAAAAEAH1SQW6DMBC8V+ofkM9BxRhC0hf00lOPUQ+OvcAqgJG9pKoi/l4bQuVccvPM7Kx31r69viQJO0uHir0nt4A8xq6bHFlJaAZP892dB41kLMrOk1ng5kVhjiRNDlzUgufC1h6LzXvGxpFRl7E1ZGJByeFB+L9Nw2gc0sK7B8GC7B1hD3Gf2pd1KGNqNIMuY6drJyKwy32BP0YhlCRofLqHGNtmTitONuE+OXmJfYDsqFXSwtun35Dy69lFVW46hyq2UfPuSa8vhTAoeN5gPXxvoWTjLb9h6DmKY6EDub7JaS1llx+fvV/i3YuuqMFEWE4aTRT/anyaYBBR59GiwqGJbIZasBFW/veYPiIGQ8skbA3GtN91gFzw4ihEkR+yjOcZFwXbfpR/IdTxrKiDA6qy3GeHMs2qKk+Lal+kxz0XKchDXdaZqLgAv6n5Dz6QGvbZAgAA Getty Images  by [Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)  ## Raisa Bruner Nov 2, 2017 8:57 PM UTC Remember “Despacito,” the [song of the summer](http://time.com/4913699/the-new-science-of-the-truly-unstoppable-impossible-to-resist-summer-jam/) for 2017? Surely you haven’t forgotten Luis Fonsi and [Daddy Yankee](http://time.com/4999359/5-songs-you-need-to-listen-to-this-week-31/)‘s [verified banger](http://time.com/4923177/spotify-song-of-summer-2017/) so soon. But if you’re in the mood to revisit its Latin charms, [consider this update](https://www.facebook.com/acapellascience/videos/1654972864547418/). Posted on the Facebook page “A Cappella Science,” the evolutionary-development-biology-themed version is sung a cappella to the catchy tune of the now-classic “Despacito.” After being re-posted on Halloween, it’s now racked up more than 5 million views (and nearly half a million on YouTube). That’s because it’s a work of pure art and science, combined. With lyrics that name-check famous biologists and reference terms like phenotype and genotype — all while laying out a visual representation of the subject — it also might become a biology teacher’s favorite classroom tool. “We are built of molecules combined in a planned-out way,” creator Tim Blais sings in the chorus. “Each piece must be told where to go. Now there’s a science helping us to understand how our cells encode this architectural plan, signaling each other with genetic tools, oh… It’s evo-devo.” Blais, who is in charge of the Facebook page and associated YouTube channel, calls his work an “online video project” and [describes himself](https://www.facebook.com/acapellascience/?hc%5Fref=ARTWtgxMp4zf0nEZz8xIMEKWJYqrNHcU2r1Q3xgUeE6NXrl7uqkcJxOg9BZrQFeT-kE&fref=nf) as a physics master’s student and “lifelong harmony addict” who draws inspiration from acts like Weird Al and [Bill Nye](http://time.com/4998660/bill-nye-trump-climate-change/). The videos are done as layers of Blais himself singing and beat-boxing; he’s a one-man show. 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