3 ms·
Perhaps along these lines, when considering compression, there is a tradeoff of sorts between the size of the compressed result and the size of the decompressor
by downerending 7y ago
Perhaps along these lines, when considering compression, there is a tradeoff of sorts between the size of the compressed result and the size of the decompressor. If I get to choose the decompressor for a file, the answer to the question of how small I can make the compressed file is "all the way" (i.e. zero bits).
It seems likely that the amount of information in the DNA "decompressor" (in mammals, the mother and her environment) dwarfs the amount actually present in the DNA itself.
- DoctorOetker 7y agoexcept that the decompressor is encoded in the genome, just like actual compressor comparisons compare the sizes of competing compressor + data
- downerending 7y agoIt is indeed proper to use that sum as a metric. It's not necessarily the case that the decompressor is encoded in the genome, though. It may very well be that crucial biological information is passed from mother to child in other ways, and it could turn out to be a lot of information.