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DNA in its somatic state is a a 3-dimensional dynamical system. Not only does the 3-dimensional structure of DNA change with time, but in some cases, the very e

DNA in its somatic state is a a 3-dimensional dynamical system. Not only does the 3-dimensional structure of DNA change with time, but in some cases, the very encoding of the DNA itself. Can you produce a simple state machine than can replicate that kind of behavior. You are aware that how DNA, transcription, translation, and cellular behavior work are still areas where we only understand the barest mechanisms (although we do know quite a lot), in an incredibly few number of systems where we know these mechanisms to exist, yes? Based on my reading of your comment it seems like you would consider cellular behavior to be a kind of linear program, which really only shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the nature of the system and biology.

russdill 8y ago
Buzz words do not make magic happen. I can describe the transistors that make up a state machine in very fancy language, even invoking quantum, to try to capture the full functioning of the atomic and quantum level of what's going on is enormously complex. It's even 3-dimensional. However, if the part I care about is only the implementation of the state machine, I can transfer that to any other substrate or just pure logic. If I'm looking at the "cognition" necessary to swap out the current algae for a new one, I don't need to care about what makes the state machine in the cell function, whether it's the relative concentration of two different proteins, the pH of the cell, or whatever. If the intelligence part of it can be reduced to a simple state machine, the other stuff doesn't factor into it.