10 - Information and Biology

Summary

In this chapter, we explore the concept of information in living organisms in its broadest sense. Biological organisms perceive the external environment, alter their own state, and take action (selection among possibilities). To capture these properties intrinsic to the organisms, we begin by discussing the “information quantity” that quantifies such situations. Starting with the definition of information quantity, we introduce Shannon entropy and provide an overview of Shannon’s information theory framework. We also discuss Kullback–Leibler divergence and mutual information. Next, moving on to information in DNA sequences, we cover various aspects such as differences in the frequency of AT and GC occurrence, the structure of genetic codes, long-range correlations in DNA sequences, and recent findings in intergenic sequences. Additionally, we explain kinetic proofreading as one candidate for achieving high accuracy in molecular recognition from a combination of unreliable elements. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between entropy in statistical mechanics and information, elucidating the connection between Maxwell’s demon and information using the Szilard engine as a mediator. Finally, we introduce intriguing points from the perspective of dynamics and information, highlighting the dynamic interplay between the two.