Molecular Mechanisms in Information Processing1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the molecular mechanisms in information processing and includes neural coding, provides evidence for molecular mechanisms, and molecular hypotheses. Introduction of the computer as a model for the brain would, superficially, seem to accentuate the physical nature of neural function further. The computers do not have to be electronic; they can work on mechanical, hydraulic, optical, and many other principles. However, in living systems, computation is done by chemical means, as exemplified by the genetic code. Similar processes take place in the nervous system where the decision made by the neuron to fire or not to fire is the outcome of molecular computation, and the behavioral response to a stimulus is the overall result of such computations by many thousands of these units wired together in intricate circuits. A survey of the three main approaches show that only the results of the bioassay methods are sufficiently specific for suggesting the existence of a molecular code; two other promising techniques, using immunological identification of neural proteins and DNA–RNA hybridization are still in the preliminary stage. Thus, the bioassay method has provided with means for guiding the isolation, purification, and identification of the substances, which may represent the molecular code of acquired information.

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