Information Theory, Evolution, and the Origin of LifeInformation Theory, Evolution and the Origin of Life presents a timely introduction to the use of information theory and coding theory in molecular biology. The genetical information system, because it is linear and digital, resembles the algorithmic language of computers. George Gamow pointed out that the application of Shannon's information theory breaks genetics and molecular biology out of the descriptive mode into the quantitative mode and Dr Yockey develops this theme, discussing how information theory and coding theory can be applied to molecular biology. He discusses how these tools for measuring the information in the sequences of the genome and the proteome are essential for our complete understanding of the nature and origin of life. The author writes for the computer competent reader who is interested in evolution and the origins of life. |
Contents
The Central Dogma of molecular biology | 20 |
Communication of information from the genome to | 33 |
The information content or complexity | 57 |
Evolution of the genetic code and its modern | 93 |
Haeckels Urschleim and the role of the Central Dogma | 114 |
Philosophical approaches to the origin of life | 149 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ala-Gln Ala-Tyr algorithm amino acids Arg His Val Asn Asp Asn Glu Asp Asp Lys Arg Asp Lys Val assigned BH distance Central Dogma Chaitin chemical chemistry coacervates code words complexity conditional entropy Crick Cys Phe Trp Cyto-c Darwin dialectical materialism Earth Eigen Equation equivalent amino acids error error catastrophe evolution functionally equivalent amino Gamow genetic code genetic message genetic noise genome Gln Asn Glu Gln Glu Glu Asp Lys Gly Pro Ser Hamming distance information content information theory iso-1-cytochrome Leu Cys Phe Leu Cys Trp log₂ Lys Arg Val Markov process Mathematical Appendix matrix molecular biology molecules mRNA mutations mutual entropy nucleotides Oparin organisms origin Phage prebiotic probability vector Protein Information Resource protein sequences Schopf second extension Section sense code letters Shannon entropy Table Theorem Thr Asn Glu Thr Gln Asn Thr Val Urschleim Val Ile Leu Yockey
Popular passages
Page vii - It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.
References to this book
Between Necessity and Probability: Searching for the Definition and Origin ... Radu Popa Limited preview - 2004 |