DNA is not a “code” in the normal sense of the word.
I don't think it's all that useful to get hung up over a word. DNA contains information and we need to call it something other than DNA once in a while because you can't just define something in terms of itself.
In the novel 1984 the "newspeak" language was an attempt to remove words from the natural language so that the very concepts that were being described could no longer be transmitted. I instead I subscribe to the Humpty Dumpty concept.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.'
Of course when a word, or words, is used in an unusual way or a word with general meaning is used for a very specific concept it is a requirement of the author to explain the proper context.
'That's a great deal to make one word mean,' Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
'When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'I always pay it extra.' |
