Logos = Universal Algorithm

Here is the definition of "algorithm":Algorithm - Wikipedia

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"Algorithm

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Broadly-defined, an algorithm is an interpretable, finite set of instructions for dealing with contingencies and accomplishing some task which can be anything that has a recognizable end-state, end-point, or result for all inputs. (contrast with heuristic). Algorithms often have steps that repeat (iterate) or require decisions (logic and comparison) until the task is completed."

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DNA is an algorithm, a finite set of instructions, which can construct a carbon based life form.The life form physically contains the DNA and the DNA contains the life form in an "abstract" sense.At a fundamental level of existence, it is postulated that "nature" could be constructed of tiny strings, and those strings, loops, or branes, could even be constructed of string "bits".These bits could encode information, analogous to the universe's "DNA"? A set of instructions built into the fabric of space/time and mass/energy?

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"If, then, it is true that the axiomatic basis of theoretical physics cannot be extracted from experience but must be freely invented, can we ever hope to find the right way? I answer without hesitation that there is, in my opinion, a right way, and that we are capable of finding it. I hold it true that pure thought can grasp reality, as the ancients dreamed." (Albert Einstein, 1954)

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There are no instructions in DNA. All DNA does is catalyze the formation of proteins. It's just chemistry. It's not a computer.There's no more "instructions" in DNA then there are "instructions" in a water molecule for the formation of ice.

Chimp, don't forget your God = Greatest Common Factor topic.You also have started other topics, under a previous ID (A forum violation, which I will, at least for now, let you get away with).I don't want to see you starting ANY more topics for a while.Adminnemooseus

http://www.bimcore.emory.edu/...Mrobbin/project/protdna.html

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DNA contains the instructions of life. It is through DNA that the organism grows and is maintained. By itself, DNA is nothing but a code. For DNA to serve a purpose, the code must be used. Proteins are the method by which DNA is used. All known of this information is fairly simplistic. The more puzzling question is how do protein and DNA work together? How is it that a protein can recognize a sequence of about 20 bases in the midst of millions of bases? What regulates these interactions? This tutorial will attempt to explain some of the mechanisms of Protein-DNA interactions.

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Page not found - Black Hawk CollegeEdward O. Wilson on The Biological Basis of Morality - The Atlantic

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Each kind of animal is furthermore guided through its life cycle by unique and often elaborate sets of instinctual algorithms, many of which are beginning to yield to genetic and neurobiological analyses. With all these examples before us, we may reasonably conclude that human behavior originated the same way.

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http://seqcore.brcf.med.umich.edu/doc/educ/dnapr/pg1.html

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DNA is basically a long molecule that contains coded instructions for the cells. Everything the cells do is coded somehow in DNA...

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Crash frog's opinion appears to be incorrect?

Crash The computer is not the algorithm -- the program in the computer "cell" is the algorithm.The old computers (I know you will like this ... ah the old days with whole air-conditioned rooms dedicated to banks of machines assembled into one computer) used punch cards to encode instructions and they had to be stacked "just so" and have no errors for the program to produce the desired results. Mistakes on the cards or shuffling some cards caused problems. Many times the program would crash (die) but sometimes it would appear to give the desired answer with some hidden error in it.However, I do have trouble with extending that analogy to the {cosmic realm and string theory and quantum mechanics} to imply a design process.You can look at DNA (or RNA) sequences and say {this section can build protein "X" under these conditions, while this section can build protein "Q" under these (different) conditions}. There is no such link known for quantum mechanics into the macro-universe.There is also no "universe-cell" structure ... (sorry) ... to "interpret" the information in assembling bits and pieces into stars, planets, galaxies, etc.A stack of punched cards without the computer "cell" to interpret them are just landfill.DNA (or RNA) without a (biological) cell is just an organic molecule.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

not that your's on the cosmic information is rendered correct thereby.you and DNAUnion should have an interesting discussion.Enjoy.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

Any statement that DNA includes "instructions" is an analogy only. It's just as accurate to say that DNA is just chemistry, because it is.It's fairly useful to consider cretain sequences of nucleotides as "instructions", but that's just an analogy, and it's inappropriate to go from that to a statement that DNA has real instructions in it.

Can you name one thing that does contain instructions?[This message has been edited by DNAunion, 04-02-2004]

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Can you name one thing that does contain instructions?

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Condom wrappers.In a sense, no. Every atom seems to have its own "instruction set" or rules to follow no different than DNA within a cell. I can't think of an easy way to separate out the instructions in an atom from the instructions in DNA.PS. This is all starting to sound a little too familiar.

So nothing contains instructions? Or a single atom contains instructions? Either position is kind of extreme (and foolish?), don't you think.[This message has been edited by DNAunion, 04-02-2004]

The manual to my VCR?

No, that's just ink.

No, the manual contains instructions, and here's how I know:It was the intent of the writers of the manual to include instructions (this I know from the definition of "manual"); and, as a speaker of English, I can verify personally that the arrangement of text explains to me how to program the VCR.Now, the manual doesn't program the VCR for me, and neither does it compel me to program it.Instructions are messages from one person to another that explain how do accomplish a task in steps. If there's "instructions" in DNA, then who put them there?

http://www.blc.arizona.edu/...e/DNA_Tutorial.HTML#Components

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DNA is a polymer. The monomer units of DNA are nucleotides, and the polymer is known as a "polynucleotide." Each nucleotide consists of a 5-carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a nitrogen containing base attached to the sugar, and a phosphate group. There are four different types of nucleotides found in DNA, differing only in the nitrogenous base. The four nucleotides are given one letter abbreviations as shorthand for the four bases.

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A is for adenine
G is for guanine
C is for cytosine
T is for thymine

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AGCT looks like code to me... DNA? = information?Physicist Stephen Hawking writes:

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DNA is the basis of all life on Earth. It has a double helix structure, like a spiral staircase...

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There are four bases in DNA: adenine, guuanine, thymine, and cytosene. The order in which they occur along the spiral staircase carries the genetic information that enables the DNA to assemble an organism around it and reproduce itself...

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At the most fundamental length scales, the fundamental paticles, called "strings", could be constructed of even more basic units i.e. bits? analogous to a computer code?1010100010...etc.Universal algorithms?This assumption seems to hint for a designed universe, or even stranger still, a universe that is a type of life form...???[This message has been edited by Chimp, 04-03-2004]

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DNAunion wrote:

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No, that's just ink.

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Excellent point DNAunion.Yes, frogs can't have their cake and eat it too...