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Some bits about information
1. Overview
Here is an overview of some creation/evolution arguments. Some of these arguments are explained here. Other pages contain additional information.
Coded information (like a book, DNA, etc.) exists.
Coded information cannot arise by chance.
The simplest self-replicating cell contains huge amounts of coded information.
Implication: There must be a Creator outside of space and time.
The Creator could visit the creation much as we today can visit computer "virtual reality" creations.
The Creator could send a message to us. This message should/can be authenticated.
Are you taking advantage of the personal "offer" that the Creator has made to you?
2. Relevant questions
The relevant questions to ask any supporter of evolution are the following.
Does information exist?
Where did information originate?
Note that information here means "coded information" as in a formal computer or natural written language. The field of quantum information sidesteps the issue by claiming that everything is information. For such claims, one must specify "coded information".
3. Flip of a fair coin
 |
|
Related fields:
Statistics
Informatics
Computer Science
|
What is the (approximate) probability that the flip of a fair coin results in heads?
If you say it is one half, then that is the probability to you. I can see the coin and to me it is either zero or one - I know the result.
The field of statistics has a deep connection to computer/information science though it may not be immediately obvious.
Saying: "
statistics means nothing to a rock". Unlike
data (every particle in the universe),
coded information requires an intelligent "
point of view".
The entire field of
statistics is the concept of known and unknown information by an observer and determining a "
best guess" at what the state of the actual information of interest.
4. Data and information
The term "data" is used to refer to "everything" and "information" to refer to "data" that has "meaning" or "value" to an "intelligent" entity.
5. Arguments
Note that arguments involving science, physics, chemistry, geology, etc., can be very difficult to precisely quantify such that an average person can understand the issues.
However, arguments involving high school mathematics involving powers of two make it possible for the average person to understand the essential arguments about creation and evolution.
6. Powers of 2
|
21 = 2
22 = 4
23 = 8
24 = 16
25 = 32
26 = 64
27 = 128
28 = 256
29 = 512
210 = 1024
|
Numbers can be represented and processed using base 2 - powers of two.
Since 1000 = 103, every power of 3 in base 10 is "about" a power of 10 in base 2. Thus, 1,000,000 = 106 is "about" a power of 6/3*10 = 20 in base 2. That is, 103 is about 220.
|
7. Bit comparisons
| Bits |
needed to represent this value. |
| 1 |
2 (one coin flip) |
| 2 |
4 (two coin flips) |
| 3 |
8 (three coin flips) |
| 4 |
16 (four coin flips) |
| 10 |
1,024 (ten coin flips, KB) |
| 20 |
≈1,000,000 (MB, 20 questions) |
| 30 |
≈1,000,000,000 (GB, billion) |
| 40 |
≈1,000,000,000,000 (TB, trillion) |
|
Game of 20 questions.
220 = 1,000,000
Not possible:
brute force enumeration
guessing long passwords
testing programs for correctness
information arising by chance
|
One goal of computer science: Convert 1,000,000 to 20.
Goal: Given random amino acids everywhere, pick out all
right-handed or
left-handed at random to build a protein. This can be analyzed as a classical statistics coin flipping model.
8. Bit progression
| Bits |
needed to represent this value. |
| 12,000,000 |
Information in simplest self-replicating cell self-organizing (nucleotide level) |
| 6,000,000,000 |
Information in human DNA (nucleotide level) |
| 58 |
Microseconds in 8,000 years |
| 270 |
Every small particle in the known universe |
| 328 |
For each do million times a second for 8,000 years |
| 348 |
Do for every particle for 8 billion years |
| 358 |
Do for every particle for 8 trillion years |
| 628 |
Make every particle a universe for 8 trillion years |
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (336 bits)
IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. (280 bits)
(56 letters/spaces, 5 or 6 bits per letter/space)
How can one get from 628 bits to 12,000,000 bits (nucleotide level) or 100,000,000,000,000 bits (atomic level)?
9. Self-organizing self-replicating cell
The 100,000,000,000,000 bits for a self-replicating cell self-organizing assumes that all of the needed "molecules" (e.g., amino acids) exist and have no trouble combining and that only the information needs to be organized.
Software complexity: 12,000,000 bits of DNA information.
Hardware complexity: 12,000,000 bits minimum in the molecular machines that must "match" the software DNA information.
Since the two are independent, the bit probabilities are multiplied together to get 12,000,000*12,000,000 = 144,000,000,000,000.
For simplicity in the above table, the nucleotide bit level and the atom bit level probability of 100,000,000,000,000 is used.
10. Exponential arithmetic
If the reasoning seems strange, you need to get used to exponential arithmetic.
8 * 8 = 23 * 23 = 26 = (2*2*2)*(2*2*2) = 64
210 * 220 = 230
2270 * 280 = 2350
11. Assumptions
Of course, if you want to argue that there is always a chance, no matter how small, then the following assumptions need to be quantified.
The atoms and atomic laws formed out of nothing.
The amino acids to make the information self-organized (they don't).
Every site in the universe is suitable for formation of life (not true).
The amino acids can be easily combined together (they can't).
Only information needs to be matched, not molecular machines representing the information.
The entire cell infrastructure (other than information) is ignored (it can't be ignored).
The cell will continue to live and replicate (it won't everywhere in the universe, as assumed above).
All other living organisms will develop from this one self-replicating cell (that adds trillions of more bits of required probability).
The universe is suitable for habitation in a large number of places.
12. Some bits about information
Here is a summary of the two-step (coded) information argument.
1. Coded information exists (DNA, book, etc.).
2. Coded information cannot arise by chance. (with probability quickly approaching 1.0)
Any theory of evolution must account for coded information arising by chance.
The only alternative appears to be that of a creator God outside of time and space. Ways have been proposed to get the needed
infinity.
Monkeys typing (begs the question in that it assumes the result).
Oscillating universe.
Many worlds.
Note that the only alternative for those
not wanting a creator is to assume coded information can arise by chance. This contradicts both logic and observed reality and requires a lot of "
faith". To read about that "
faith", check out the Wikipedia page on "
Junkyard tornado".
[Hoyle fallacy]
13. End of page
