Biological Codes in the light of Coding Theory

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Lutz Strüngmann
• Subject Area: Mathematics ; Bioinformatics and Theoretical Biology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 546226992

Biological (organic) codes like the genetic code establish a mapping between different sets of molecules, or more generally components or processes, of different kinds by means of adaptors. A good example is given by the genetic code (mapping codons to amino acids utilizing transfer RNAs as adaptors). Recent years have shown a rapid increase in the number of published codes throughout the life sciences, especially in the biological sciences, with a focus on molecular biology and cognition. It turned out that there are many different definitions and concepts of codes as until today various disciplines independently developed their own working models of how codes in their respective area function. However, only a few attempts have been made to classify organic codes by mathematical terminology or to apply techniques from coding theory or information theory to organic codes. In our project we follow two ideas: At first it is the intention to see if and how construction and classification methods from classical information theory and coding theory can be transferred to certain organic codes. In the same line we will also investigate how general mappings as postulated in organic codes can be used to define new classes of codes in mathematics. In particular, we will try to understand the concept of adaptor that exists and is essential in organic codes, and see how a parallel tool could be used in the theory of classical codes to construct new or improve known codes with respect to their error detecting and correcting properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants