A gene expression is the process which eventually leads to the production of a complicated protein molecule. Each protein looks slightly different and has a different role overall in the human body. The encoding of the release of proteins, when and where, is encoded in the genes. Basically, from the DNA transcripts are created (RNA's), which could be viewed as part of a blueprint in reverse form and from these transcripts, the proteins are developed in combination with other processes (regulators). Eventually, the protein is assimilated and then it starts executing its 'designed' function. Some biologists are now working on reverse-engineering this process (thus, reverse-engineering the construction of biological processes as you could call it), back into the programming as it is contained in the DNA.To call DNA 'building blocks' of life is thus a bit of a misnomer. It's a very large blue-print, or rather, information store. I then think of proteins as agents, constructed through the process of translation of instructions (its purpose) from the RNA transcript. Whereas DNA is just a big information store, the proteins actively carry out the duty as laid out in the instruction set of DNA. These duties can vary significantly. Some proteins help in cell construction, others help by being an information carrier, carrying messages from one organ or part of the body to another, where it meets other proteins (called receptors), causing a biochemical response in that cell, which in turn causes another biochemical reaction which can change our behaviour.
The timing of the construction of certain cells (body development) is contained in the DNA. The DNA will ensure that certain parts of the blueprint are released at the desired time to ensure correct development and functioning. It's difficult not to be in awe of the entire design of life, and how the relatively incomplex function of one element in combination with other not-so-complex functions eventually lead to an emergent intelligent behaviour, or rather, biologically balanced system.
One of the challenges in biology is how to discover where a certain protein, having a certain function, effectively was coded in the DNA. Thus... what did the information look like in the DNA structure which caused a certain protein to have its shape, size and function? Reverse-engineering that process will eventually lead to a much greater understanding of DNA itself. At the moment, this reverse-engineering is mostly done by comparing DNA strands of those individuals that have slightly different features, and then guessing where those differences are 'kept' in the blueprint. Although this is useful, it'll only give indications on what the sequence should be to produce that particular feature, it cannot yet be used to induce a feature that is different from both features observed.
The challenge for computer programs using genetic expressions however is even more challenging. There is no DNA yet for programs from which programs can be written. I really doubt whether they should lead to programs 'as we know it', (thus, a single DNA feature leading to a specific, one 'rule' or bytecode).
Imagine an execution environment in which a neural network could be executed. If the DNA contains instructions to form neurons and synapses, then the resulting network is going to be radically different from any NN design we know nowadays. If proteins govern the construction of the network and its size, then the execution environment itself can monitor available memory and take appropriate steps to regulate the proteins + network in such a way, that it gives the best accuracy and yield (function?). Thus, be a certain percentage of the natural selection algorithm.
The problem remains always in the construction of code, or 'function'. The function that is contained in a neural network will generally be constrained by the preprogramming of the environment itself. That is, the execution environment will be programmed to carry out certain functions, but the execution environment itself cannot 'self-innovate' and evolve new functions over time. So, in other words, it's like saying that the functions that a program could ever develop are those functions which are emergent from the simple functions defined in the execution environment.
Nevertheless, can such an environment with only a couple of pre-programmed capabilities lead to new insights and interesting scientific results?
If we produce the following analogy: "nature" is the execution environment of the world around us. We are biological complex life-forms which rely on this 'execution environment' to act. In this sense, 'nature' is an abstract form, all around us, not represented in concrete form. Our biological processes allow us to perceive events from material elements around us (being either other humans, cars, houses, etc.). We can see the representation, hear it, touch it or otherwise interact with that representation.
Similarly, in the execution environment in the computer, we can give a program developed by a gene expression a "world" or a "material representation". It'll be entirely abstract as in bits and bytes, but that doesn't necessarily matter.
We believe the world itself is real, because we experience it as consistent and always there. But if you've seen "The Matrix" (which btw I don't believe is real :), then you can easily understand my point that the experience of something, or being consciousness of something, doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be real 'as we know it'.
Back to the point, if the program doesn't know any better, it'll just be aware of its own world. That world are the inputs of the mouse, the microphone, internet?, keyboard and so on. The output available to it is the video card (thus the screen), the speakers and internet again. Following that pattern, the program could theoretically interface with us directly, reacting to outside real-world inputs, but always indirectly through a proxy and also indirectly provide feedback. It's as if the program always wears VR-goggles and doesn't know any better, but we can see the effects of it's reasoning on-screen or through other outputs.
- Enormous simplification of nature (biological processes) == execution environment
- Material objects == "modified" input/output hardware channels
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