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Is information a proper observable for biological organization?

G Longo¹, P-A Miquel, C Sonnenschein

¹CREA, Ecole Polytechnique, 32 Boulevard Victor, 75015 Paris, France. Giuseppe.Longo@ens.fr

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology

|July 17, 2012

Summary

Mathematical information theories, though valid, hinder biological understanding due to their inherent causal structures. This analysis explores these theories and their impact on organismal biology, focusing on complexity, information, and entropy.

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Area of Science:

Biology
Mathematics
Philosophy of Science

Background:

Mathematical theories of information emerged with computers.
The concept of information was applied to molecular biology and broader biological sciences.
Concerns exist regarding genetic determinism and the applicability of information theory in biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the development of mathematical information theories.
To examine the suitability of these theories for biological applications.
To investigate the relationship between complexity, information, and entropy in biological contexts.

Main Methods:

Review of mathematical information theories.
Philosophical and biological analysis of information concept application.
Comparative analysis of information theories concerning complexity and entropy.

Main Results:

Mathematical information theories possess causal structures potentially unsuitable for biology.
The application of these theories may impede the development of a robust theory of organisms.
Differences in information theories impact the understanding of complexity, information, and entropy.

Conclusions:

The direct application of mathematical information theories in biology requires critical re-evaluation.
A more nuanced approach is needed to integrate information concepts into biological sciences.
Understanding the distinctions between information theories is crucial for advancing organismal biology.