Information Theory, Evolution, and the Origin of Life

This book is an introduction to the use of information theory and coding theory in molecular biology.

Hubert P. Yockey (Author)

9780521169585, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 February 2011

272 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.4 kg

Originally published in 2005, Information Theory, Evolution and the Origin of Life presents an 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.

1. The genetic information system
2. James Watson, Francis Crick, George Gamow and the genetic code
3. The central dogma of molecular biology
4. The measure of information content in the genetic message
5. Communication of information from the genome to the proteome
6. The information content or complexity of protein families
7. Evolution of the genetic code and its modern characteristics
8. Haeckel's Urschleim and the role of the central dogma in the origin of life
9. Philosophical approaches to the origin of life
10. Error catastrophe and the hypercycles of Eigen and Schuster
11. Randomness, complexity, the unknowable and the impossible
12. Does evolution need an intelligent designer?

Subject Areas: Genetics [non-medical PSAK], Evolution [PSAJ], Applied mathematics [PBW], Information theory [GPF]