I know computers, and I know DNA. They are not the same at all.
Codons are the three letter programming words (built from the GATC bases) that specify one of 20 amino acids that in turn form the (now decoded) proteins required to physically build an organism.
Yes this is true, but they are not three letter "programming words". The term "word" exists in computing, and it is not relevant to DNA. The term "programming word" does not exist, it is something you must have made up.
Each codon word of 3 bases is therefor an instruction for the translation to any one of 20 amino acids, 3 stop signals, or 5 start signals.
No, it is a template, not an instruction. A computer instruction is made from an opcode and operands. This is nothing like a codon.
Oh, and will you please state for the record in your very next post that you specifically hold that DNA transcription has no direction?!
I never claimed DNA transcription had no direction, I said the overall process is not sequential. Transcription is just one part of the processes. The proteins finally expressed by DNA go on to simultaneously interact with one another to produce the biological effect. This is the real "execution" of DNA, and notice that it is not sequential and nothing like computer execution. The way DNA works is more analogous to a cake recipe than a computer program. The genes are ingredients, and the mixture of the ingredients coupled with the environment result in the organism.
"Yes this is true,
but they are not three letter "programming words"." The term "word" exists in computing, and it is not relevant to DNA." - bobdsmith
The term "word" exists in computing to denote a grouping of Binary bits that comprise an instruction. The analogy in DNA are the three bases (mathematical Base-4 instead of Binary Base-2) that are grouped together on each successive rung of the DNA double-helix ladder.
The computing "word" expresses a command instruction to the CPU. The DNA double-helix rung likewise expresses an amino acid, start command, or stop command (read: "Instruction") in the genome processing.
Then you know nothing about either.
Computers and DNA both process commands and data. Both computers and DNA have start and stop instructions for processing, for instance.
"No, it is a template, not an instruction." - bobdsmith
Incorrect. In fact, not only incorrect, but completely wrong and utterly uninformed. Go back to school. Demand a refund. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
DNA start commands and stop commands are incontrovertibly instructions.
Do not say otherwise.
...Only if you've never heard of parallel processing...or if you've never heard of multi-threading...or if you've never heard of external interrupt driven design...or if you've never heard of fuzzy logic...or if you've never heard of nueral nets...yeah, if you've been isolated from the past 40 years of computer science advances then you *might* be forgiven for thinking that DNA has little in common with computer execution.
You'd still be wrong, but at least you might have a good enough excuse to warrant forgiveness.