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Information theory terms and ideas applied to DNA are not metaphorical, but in fact quite literal in every way. In other words, the information theory argument for design is not based on analogy at all. It is direct application of mathematics to DNA, which by definition is a code.
The book Information Theory, Evolution and the Origin of Life is written by Hubert Yockey, the foremost living specialist in bioinformatics. The publisher is Cambridge University press. Yockey rigorously demonstrates that the coding process in DNA is identical to the coding process and mathematical definitions used in Electrical Engineering. This is not subjective, it is not debatable or even controversial. It is a brute fact:
“Information, transcription, translation, code, redundancy, synonymous, messenger, editing, and proofreading are all appropriate terms in biology. They take their meaning from information theory (Shannon, 1948) and are not synonyms, metaphors, or analogies.” (Hubert P. Yockey, Information Theory, Evolution, and the Origin of Life, Cambridge University Press, 2005)
originally posted by: Raggedyman
Imagine the code as a very very detailed book, an instruction manual, incomparably complex set of schematics to build living, breathing-life and you, really
It needs a author and it needs a designer and it needs builders and what? You say what?
“it needs to be run”It needs to be run in what, space dust and space water
You believe that?
Abstract
Understanding genetic regulation is a problem of fundamental importance. Recent studies have made it increasingly evident that, whereas the cellular genetic regulation system embodies multiple disparate elements engaged in numerous interactions, the central issue is the genuine function of the DNA molecule as information carrier. Compelling evidence suggests that the DNA, in addition to the digital information of the linear genetic code (the semantics), encodes equally important continuous, or analog, information that specifies the structural dynamics and configuration (the syntax) of the polymer. These two DNA information types are intrinsically coupled in the primary sequence organisation, and this coupling is directly relevant to regulation of the genetic function. In this review, we emphasise the critical need of holistic integration of the DNA information as a prerequisite for understanding the organisational complexity of the genetic regulation system.
Put another way, this implies that the structural dynamics of the chromosome must be fully convertible into its genetic expression and vice versa. Since the DNA is an essential carrier of genetic information, the fundamental question is how this self-referential organisation is encoded in the sequence of the DNA polymer.
originally posted by: noonebutme
a reply to: neoholographic
I think you’re completely misinterpreting my posts
I’m not actually saying our evolved ‘design’ is bad. It’s incredible. But when people say we are ‘intelligently designed’ and you look at the mistakes evolution crops up and the current ‘model’ of humans - you have to ask who, if designed by an intelligence, would choose those options?
Humans are far from perfect. Very far
But very efficient when you look at the process of natural secretion.
I’m not sure why you’re going down such a weird alleyway
Abstract
Understanding genetic regulation is a problem of fundamental importance. Recent studies have made it increasingly evident that, whereas the cellular genetic regulation system embodies multiple disparate elements engaged in numerous interactions, the central issue is the genuine function of the DNA molecule as information carrier. Compelling evidence suggests that the DNA, in addition to the digital information of the linear genetic code (the semantics), encodes equally important continuous, or analog, information that specifies the structural dynamics and configuration (the syntax) of the polymer. These two DNA information types are intrinsically coupled in the primary sequence organisation, and this coupling is directly relevant to regulation of the genetic function. In this review, we emphasise the critical need of holistic integration of the DNA information as a prerequisite for understanding the organisational complexity of the genetic regulation system.
Abstract
The digital linear coding carried by the base pairs in the DNA double helix is now known to have an important component that acts by altering, along its length, the natural shape and stiffness of the molecule. In this way, one region of DNA is structurally distinguished from another, constituting an additional form of encoded information manifest in three-dimensional space. These shape and stiffness variations help in guiding and facilitating the DNA during its three-dimensional spatial interactions. Such interactions with itself allow communication between genes and enhanced wrapping and histone-octamer binding within the nucleosome core particle. Meanwhile, interactions with proteins can have a reduced entropic binding penalty owing to advantageous sequence-dependent bending anisotropy. Sequence periodicity within the DNA, giving a corresponding structural periodicity of shape and stiffness, also influences the supercoiling of the molecule, which, in turn, plays an important facilitating role. In effect, the super-helical density acts as an analogue regulatory mode in contrast to the more commonly acknowledged purely digital mode. Many of these ideas are still poorly understood, and represent a fundamental and outstanding biological question. This review gives an overview of very recent developments, and hopefully identifies promising future lines of enquiry.
originally posted by: cooperton
originally posted by: noonebutme
a reply to: neoholographic
I think you’re completely misinterpreting my posts
I’m not actually saying our evolved ‘design’ is bad. It’s incredible. But when people say we are ‘intelligently designed’ and you look at the mistakes evolution crops up and the current ‘model’ of humans - you have to ask who, if designed by an intelligence, would choose those options?
Humans are far from perfect. Very far
Stop sinning and you'll realize how great the design actually is. Justice is programmed even into our biology so that we face the consequences of deviant behavior. We are being taught from an infallible level and you can't see it because you're so soaked in these random-chance delusions of evolution.
But very efficient when you look at the process of natural secretion.
I’m not sure why you’re going down such a weird alleyway
Could you imagine a monkey building the terminator robot? Of course not. It's an absurd idea even if it was given infinite time. The fact is that humans are organic supercomputers that could not have been created by random chance. Evolution is the weirdest dead-end alleyway I have ever been down my life. It's so dark in there, it took me ten years to even realize I should turn around.
originally posted by: dragonridr
a reply to: neoholographic
Ill say this quantum computing is far more difficult than DNA coding. Again you fail to understand we are still talking about chemical reactions. Chemistry has certain rules built right in it requires certain conditions and you will get specific results. Metabolism is easy it kind of just appears because of interactions between molecules.
In the case of early life were you aware RNA can actually do the same functions as proteins?