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Arithmetic inside the universal genetic code.

Vladimir I shCherbak1

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, al-Faraby Kazakh National University, 71 al-Faraby Avenue, Almaty 480078, Kazakhstan CIS. genecodelab@hotmail.com

Bio Systems
|August 28, 2003
PubMed
Summary

The genetic code may incorporate arithmetic, using nucleotide sums to form repeating digital patterns like 111 or 222. This suggests a potential biocomputing mechanism within cells for genetic text processing.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Bioinformatics
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • The genetic code, the foundation of all life's information systems, has been theorized to possess inherent arithmetic capabilities.
  • The possibility of arithmetic symbols within the genetic code's alphabet (nucleic acids and amino acids) is explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and function of a numeration system within the genetic code.
  • To determine if arithmetic calculations are performed for genetic text control, safety, and alteration.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetic code versions from Escherichia coli and Euplotes octocarinatus.
  • Examination of nucleon sums of amino acids and nucleic acid bases as potential digits.
  • Simultaneous consideration of compressed, life-size, and split code representations.

Main Results:

  • Identified exact equilibration of nucleon sums within specific genetic code sets.
  • Discovered digital notations of balanced sums forming unique decimal patterns (111, 222, etc.).
  • These patterns are linked to a divisibility criterion by 037, potentially simplifying cellular computation.

Conclusions:

  • The genetic code exhibits cooperative symmetry, suggesting the use of zero and a potential biocomputing mechanism.
  • Physicochemical properties like amino acid size and hydrophobicity may be effects of this internal arithmetic.
  • The 'frozen accident' model could explain the emergence of both arithmetic symbols and physicochemical stability in the genetic code.

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