Questioning the randomness of genetics could preemptively predict mutations
Questioning the randomness of genetics could preemptively predict mutations lead image
The second law of thermodynamics, which states that the entropy of a system must either remain constant or increase over time, is fundamental to understanding the physics of the entire universe. Vopson and Lepadatu introduced the second law of information dynamics, or infodynamics, which states just the opposite.
Using digital data storage and a COVID-19 RNA genome as examples, the authors found information states are a unique exception to the second law of thermodynamics. Instead of entropy increasing over time, the entropy of information decreases over time.
To demonstrate the second law of infodynamics, the authors discussed how the time evolution of a digital information system requires a decrease of entropy due to thermal activation and backed this up with Monte Carlo micromagnetic simulations. The team also analyzed real COVID-19 genomes and showed their information entropy decreased over time.
“Our observed correlation between the information entropy and the time dynamics of genetic mutations is truly unique because it reconfirms the second law of infodynamics, but it also points to a possible deterministic approach to genetic mutations, currently believed to be just random events,” author Melvin Vopson said. “The evidence of the existence of an information entropic force that governs genetic mutations instead of randomness is very powerful … and it could lead to the future development of predictive algorithms of genetic mutations before they occur.”
Vopson said there are many more questions that warrant further investigation, including the implications of the second law of infodynamics to the evolution of information in the universe and non-equilibrium states.
Source: “Second law of information dynamics,” by Melvin M. Vopson and S. Lepadatu, AIP Advances (2022). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0100358 .
