#Creationists love the idea that the #genetic #code and #computer code are fundamentally the same thing. Since of course #programs are #designed (not always #intelligently, but that's another post) they think this is proof that life was too.

They seize on one-liners from those they regard as infidels and heretics, because then they can say, "See? Even unbelievers admit that ..." Bill Gates and Richard Dawkins, both known for going outside their lanes, are popular choices. Gates: "#DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software ever created." Dawkins: "I'm fascinated by the idea that genetics is digital. A #gene is a long sequence of coded letters, like computer information."

I get why this is a popular analogy. Unfortunately, it's also a bad one. Those of us with one foot in each field know the differences far outweigh the similarities. Which leads me to the following epigram:

Many #programmers say genes look like code. Many #biologists say code looks like genes. No #bioinformaticist says either.