dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois) (08/17/85)
Below are three quotations from the literature. My hypothesis is that they form a lineage, in which one person quoted the original (inaccuratrely), and a third person quoted him (also inaccurately), rather than looking up the original for himself. Your assignment, should you decide to accept it, is to reconstruct the lineage. To facilitate comparison, I have juxtaposed corresponding lines of the three passages. Passage 1 consists of all those lines numbered "1", etc., but the numbers indicate nothing about relative chronological order. Which comes first, second, third? How do you know? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Suppose we wanted to build a machine capable of reaching into bins for 2 Suppose we wanted to build a machine capable of reaching into bins for 3 Suppose we wanted to build a machine capable of reaching into bins for 1 all of its parts, and capable of assembling from these parts a second 2 all of its parts, and capable of assembling from these parts a second 3 all its parts, and capable of assembling from these parts a second 1 machine just like itself. What is the minimum amount of structure or 2 machine, just like itself. What is the minimum amount of structure or 3 machine just like itself. What is the minimum amount of structure or 1 information that should be built into the first machine? The answer 2 information which should be built into the first machine? The answer 3 information that should be built into the first machine? The answer 1 comes out to be of the order of 1500 bits -- 1500 choices between 2 came out to be of the order of 1500 bits -- 1500 choices between 3 comes out to be of the order of 1,500 bits -- 1,500 choices between 1 alternatives which the machine should be able to decide. This answer 2 alternatives which the machine should be able to decide. This answer 3 alternatives which the machine should be able to decide. This answer 1 is very suggestive, because 1500 bits happens to be also of the order of 2 is very suggestive, because 1500 bits happens to be also the order of 3 is very suggestive, because 1,500 bits happens to be also of the order of 1 magnitude of the amount of structure contained in the simplest large 2 magnitude of the amount of structure contained in the simplest large 3 magnitude of the amount of structure contained in the simplest large 1 protein molecule which, immersed in bath of nutrients, can induce the 2 protein molecule which, immersed in bath of nutrients, can induce the 3 protein molecule which, immersed in bath of nutrients, can induce the 1 assembly of those nutrients into another large protein molecule like 2 assembly of these nutrients into another large protein molecule like 3 assembly of those nutrients into another large protein molecule like 1 itself, and then separate itself from it. 2 itself, and then separate itself from it. 3 itself, and then separate itself from it. -- | Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois --+-- | Ritual and Ceremony: Life Itself. |