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Life Invents Ever New Levels of Language

Abstract

Life keeps inventing new levels of language: DNA, neurons, human language, com­

puter code, Internet. Finally, the Internet makes bioinformatics software and biological

knowledge (PubMed, open access publications), among other things, accessible world­

wide. For this purpose, a Domain Name Server (DNS) is used to rewrite the Internet

Protocol (IP) address into easily readable addresses. Synthetic biology uses all col­

lected knowledge on biological processes for technical applications, e.g. classical bio­

technology (microorganisms produce citric acid, erythropoietin or insulin), more

modern are whole circuits (MIT parts list or Biobricks, IGEM competition). Such pro­

cesses are described in the GoSynthetic database and the MIT BioBricks. Drug design

using in silico screens and molecular dynamics simulations also noticeably shortens

drug development. Natural and analog computing, for example, use slime molds for

complex calculations. The nanocellulose chip is potentially superior to today’s com­

puter chips. It uses DNA for storage and light-controlled polymerases and exonucleases

for reading in and out the stored information. Modulating proteins and processes act

electronically across the nanocellulose membrane. New combinations of molecular

biology, nanotechnology and modern electronics have huge future technology potential.

Apart from the genetic “language of life“, another aspect is very fascinating: Life is always

inventing new levels of language (see Sect. 12.1).

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023

T. Dandekar, M. Kunz, Bioinformatics,

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-65036-3_13