‘DNA is much like computer code, and cells are much like computers.’
How so?
Goodgrief, do I look like a highschool teacher?
‘DNA is much like computer code, and cells are much like computers.’I too write computer programs. While obviously computer programs aren't exactly like DNA, I think it is an excellent comparison. Computer code and DNA are both series of codes which completely describe the shape, function, and appearance of their end product. Now DNA is not turing capable or sequential like a computer program, but then it doesn't need to be. They both have words or opcodes if I may speak loosely that are in a certain order. And by removing or changing these codes, one can change the end product. Software pirates have, for years, been using hex editors to go change bytes in a program to disable a feature (usually the copy-protection code) and this is very like poking around in a DNA sequence and changing some of the codes and getting more wings on a fruit fly or whatever. In both cases code can be corrupted, deleted, inserted, and duplicated. In both cases randomly changing code generally cripples the end product (whether it be a life form or a computer program) or completely makes it unusable. But careful work of editing the code can change the operation or add features if the code to do more features is added.How so?
You could write a computer program to look any way you wanted or do whatever you wanted. If you were really good with a fine pair of tweezers and knew how DNA worked completely, you could, letter by letter, build any kind of creature you wanted.
I say that comparing DNA and computer code is an excellent comparison.
-Jesse