On the Computer-Science Category of Analogicity and the Possibility of its Application in Molecular Biology

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14394/filnau.2020.0015

Keywords:

analog computation, analogicity, computer science, empirical computation, molecular biology, philosophy of computing, protein folding

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to justify the thesis that in molecular biology — in the scope of phenomena fundamental for the functioning of the cell — a significant role is played by analog (nondiscrete) information, which can be described in computational terms. It is a methodological thesis, indicating a certain direction of advancing new biological hypotheses. This aim is realized in two stages. In sections 1 and 2 we discuss the computer-science concept of analogicity, generally describing different concepts of analog-continuous and analog-empirical computations, as well as discussing the relationship between analogicity and digitality. In sections 3 and 4 we analyze some components of the process of protein formation, emphasizing that an adequate description of this process requires taking into account information of an analog nature, which, with a certain research attitude, can be described, but also used, computationally.

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Published

2020-10-31

How to Cite

Stacewicz, P., & Siedliński, R. (2020). On the Computer-Science Category of Analogicity and the Possibility of its Application in Molecular Biology. The Philosophy of Science, 28(3), 47–71. https://doi.org/10.14394/filnau.2020.0015