The Open Evolution Journal

2013, 7 : 17-18
Published online 2013 December 27. DOI: 10.2174/1874404401307010017
Publisher ID: TOEVOLJ-7-17

Digital Code Mutation and Nucleotide Code Mutation is Not a Valid Comparison

Gerdien de Jong
Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, NL-3584CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

DeJong & Degens (2011) conclude from the properties of digital codes that ‘nucleotide codes’ should have similar mutation protection. I argue that digital codes and ‘nucleotide codes’ are not sufficiently similar to draw conclusions about mutation protection and evolution. A ‘mutation protection paradox’ does therefore not exist in biology.

Keywords:

Digital code, nucleotide code, mutation protection, evolution.