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From: turpin@ut-sally.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: information content of DNA
Message-ID: <7659@ut-sally.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Mar-87 17:41:05 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-sally.7659
Posted: Tue Mar 31 17:41:05 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 2-Apr-87 01:47:23 EST
References: <2840@ecsvax.UUCP> <11189@teknowledge-vaxc.ARPA> <978@aecom.UUCP> <2844@ecsvax.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 19

Whatever the information content of human DNA is, it should NOT
be interpretted as the amount of information required to describe
what a human is. A better interpretation is to view this
information as describing differences between individuals, so
that the "amount of information" determines the potential genetic
variability in the human population. (Even this is a rough cut,
since not all possible values for human DNA are practical
biological values.)

Outside of DNA content, what is the other information that
determines what a human is? The entire environment under which
DNA is an encoding: biochemical "laws" that determine RNA and
protein synthesis, the form of human DNA as opposed to other DNA
(23 chromosome pairs), etc. Consider a computer that on receiving
a one-bit message will either print the Declaration of
Independence or Hobbes' Leviathan. That one bit determines which
is chosen, but does not fully describe either result. 

Russell