[Southack]

"You cannot [say] that data in DNA is separate from structure"

Can I say that the data on your hard drive is separate from the structure of the hard drive?

[js1138]

Actually no. But seriously, the whole concept of information is specious when applied to biological systems, minds, and so forth. Sure, DNA looks pretty digital, but you cannot map specific elements directly to specific structural or behavioral outcomes in the whole organism. There is a dance taking place between DNA and environment, and the outcome of specific changes is not always predictable.

[tortoise]

Can I say that the data on your hard drive is separate from the structure of the hard drive?

No, you cannot separate information from the substrate it resides on, though people frequently (and incorrectly) view it that way. Information is a property of the hard drive substrate, which is why information can never be moved from a substrate, only copied to another substrate. While this may seem like a pointless distinction, it is extremely relevant in that it is the foundation of transaction theory. Life would certainly be much easier for software engineers if this wasn't the case.