[Southack]

"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."

You probably erred when you used the term "specious" above. As for DNA appearing digital, I'd agree somewhat.

However, DNA more closely resembles an analog computer (or control system) than a digital computer, to me.

And specific changes in an analog control system are not always 100% predictable due to environmental feedback. Hmmm...

[js1138]

Glad you brought up the word analog. Analog systems cannot be reduced to information, due to complexity, butterfly effect, and all that. We can model them, make many useful short term predictions, but they always drift away from prediction.

Interesting that analog us reproduces with DNA, which is clearly digital in structure. Some mechanism must be required to prevent the iterative ADA conversion from drifting into nonviable jelly. Is it possible that the mechanism is selection?

[cracker]

You probably erred when you used the term "specious" above. As for DNA appearing digital, I'd agree somewhat.

What quantity of information is encoded in DNA? Unless you can explain it, then information theory would indeed seem a poor choice for chemistry.