From: "Perry E. Metzger" <pmetzger@lehman.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 93 18:49:56 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Bandwidth limitations, DNA binary coding
In-Reply-To: <01H58QZWMFG2002CL4@UNCVX1.OIT.UNC.EDU>
Message-ID: <9311130249.AA04254@snark.lehman.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



VACCINIA@uncvx1.oit.unc.edu says:
>         There are four base pair combinations, but HUGO (Human Genome 
> Organization) has elected to use 15 letter symbols in it's representation
> of the genome coding sequence (X is any base, for instance). 15 symbols, 
> 1 byte.

15 symbols, HALF a byte (actually a touch less.) One nybble can
express 16 possible symbols (or one Hex digit, or whatever.) 

Plus, of course, the genome is highly compressable -- lots of repeated
sequences, especially in interons.

Perry