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A Web Tool for Generating High Quality Machine-readable Biological Pathways
Published on: February 8, 2017
How ambiguity codes specify molecular descriptors and information flow in Code Biology
Nikola Štambuk1, Paško Konjevoda2, Albert Štambuk3
1Centre for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
Abstract:
The article presents IUPAC ambiguity codes for incomplete nucleic acid specification, and their use in Code Biology. It is shown how to use this nomenclature in order to extract accurate information on different properties of the biological systems. We investigated the use of ambiguity codes, as mathematical and logical operators and truth table elements, for the encoding of amino acids by means of the Standard Genetic Code. It is explained how to use ambiguity codes and truth functions in order to obtain accurate information on different properties of the biological systems. Nucleotide ambiguity codes could be applied to: 1. encoding descriptive information of nucleotides, amino acids and proteins (e.g., of polarity, relative solvent accessibility, atom depth, etc.), and 2. system modelling ranging from standard bioinformatics tools to classic evolutionary models (i.e. from Miyazawa-Jernigan statistical potential to Kimura three-substitution-type model, respectively). It is shown that the algorithms based on IUPAC ambiguity codes, Boolean functions and truth table, Probabilistic Square of Opposition/Semiotic Square and Klein 4-groups-could be used for the bioinformatics analyses and Relational data modelling in natural science. Underlying mathematical, logical and semiotic concepts of interest are presented and addressed.
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