A Ha, as I said before, I do
not agree with Dr. Gitt’s theological outlook. But as a linguist and scientist,
I do relate to his theory on UI (Universal Information). In his book Gitt
discusses his different propositions for UI in detail. In a general discussion
he touches on the Egyptian hieroglyphics and their deciphering by means of the
Rosetta stone. Human language and computer language are included in this discussion. Next he explains the lowest level of information as being statistics.
Shannon’s theory of information is suitable
for describing statistical information.
Shannon’s Theory
1) Any random sequence of
symbols is regarded as information, without regard to its origin or whether it
is meaningful or not,
2) The statistical
information content of a sequence of symbols is a quantitative concept,
measured in bits (binary digits).
Gitt then goes on to discuss most, if
not all, existing codes and coding systems. He arrives at the following
conclusion:
a) A code is a necessary
prerequisite for establishing and storing information.
b) Every choice of code must
be well thought out beforehand in the conceptual stage.
c) If information is to be
understood, the particular code must be known to both sender and recipient.
d) Devising a code is a
creative mental process.
e) Matter can be a carrier of
codes, but cannot generate any codes.
Furthermore, he summarizes
the prerequisites of Universal Information (UI) as follows:
Cosyntics (code + syntax):
Code employed and code understood.
Symantics: Communicated ideas
and understood meaning.
Pragmatics: Expected action
and implemented action.
Apobetics: Intended purpose
and achieved result.
Summary
There can be no UI without a
code.
Any code is the result of
free and deliberate convention.
There can be no UI without a
sender.
Any given chain of UI points
to a mental source.
There can be no UI without
volition (will).
There can be no UI unless all
five hierarchical levels are involved: Statistics, cosyntics, semantics,
pragmatics, and apobetics.
UI cannot originate in solely
statistical processes or from inanimate objects.
He uses protein synthesis in
the cell as the application and translation of code. A such it qualifies as UI.
Proteins are the chief components and building blocks for the structural
composition of living cells. Our genetic code has four base pairs (adenine,
thymine, cytosine, guanine) which code for 20 amino acids required for protein
synthesis. Here one needs at least 20 combinations, which could be calculated
according to Shannon’s theory. Proteins
function structurally/mechanically as well as functionally/enzymatically. Proteins
are formed by three processes: Transcription, translation and replication. The
flow of UI is a two way “conversation” with regulation on/off switches.
Summary
Code + Syntax: DNA/RNA
Protein Synthesizing System (DRPSS) have an abstract code and a set of
syntactical rules.
Semantics: The DNA/RNA codons
substitute for/represent commands or specific amino acids and specify their
proper sequence.
Pragmatics: When the ribosome
‘reads’ the RNA ‘executes command,’ and starts forming covalent peptide bonds
between amino acids as specified by mRNA.
Apobetics: The purpose would
be to sustain and maintain a living, functioning organism.
Deduction
Universal
Information can only be created by an intelligent sender.
The
‘information’ conveyed by the DPRSS qualifies as UI.
Therefore,
UI in the DRPSS must have been created by an intelligent sender.
Problem
I see now that not all are convinced that DNA/RNA of the cell nucleus, as well as its DRPSS, is a Universal Information System. But for me the evidence is overwhelming and it fits in perfectly with my world view. Time will tell whether I am right or wrong.
