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

O informatycznej kategorii analogowości i jej stosowalności w biologii molekularnej
On the Computer-Science Category of Analogicity and the Possibility of its Application in Molecular Biology

Author(s): Paweł Stacewicz, Radosław Siedliński
Subject(s): Special Branches of Philosophy
Published by: Uniwersytet Warszawski - Wydział Filozofii i Socjologii, Instytut Filozofii
Keywords: analog computation; analogicity; computer science; empirical computation; molecular biology; philosophy of computing; protein folding

Summary/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.

  • Issue Year: 28/2020
  • Issue No: 3 (111)
  • Page Range: 47-71
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Polish