Complete Quantum Information in the DNA Genetic Code
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I enjoyed reading this paper, but I have several criticisms for the authors to consider.
The authors should consider this pre-print and the included references:
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202009.0162/v2
Many of the issues raised in this current submission are explained in detail.
The authors might also be interested in this paper:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.20.958546v2.full
From the introduction:
*G. Gamow (also a cosmologist) observed that the 4 61 3 = 64 possible permutations of the four DNA 62 bases A, T, G and C, taken three at a time (as codons), could be reduced to 20 distinct combinations 63 and might code for the twenty amino acids which, he suggested, might well be the sole constituents of 64 all proteins*
The complexity of the genetic code is, at most, 4 x 4 x 2 (32 assignments) in tRNA, not 4 x 4 x 4 (64 assignments), as in mRNA or DNA. There is only purine-pyrimidine resolution at a wobble position. The genetic code evolved from a primitive ribosome reading tRNAs. Initially, 1st and 3rd positions in the anticodon were wobble positions. Evolution of the EF-Tu “latch” allowed the 3rd anticodon position to be read with 4-base resolution, allowing the code to eventually expand to 20 amino acid assignments + stops (21 assignments versus a maximum of 32 assignments).
Deriving the genetic code from DNA or mRNA is a mistake. The genetic code derives from the tRNA anticodon, which causes wobbling and degeneracy.
Line 102: *the third position in the codon is not strictly *red* by the anticodon according to Watson-Crick pairing*
Should be “read”
The paper is well-written and thoughtful. I find the authors’ approach to be not quite right. I think that a focus on the tRNA anticodon and a rich literature on evolution of the code (see above) may help with this analysis.
Author Response
We thank the reviewer for interesting comments about our manuscript.
Accoding to his proposal, we added three references: the one by Michael Yarus, and two by Lei Lei and Zachary Burton, that represent recent perspectives about the evolution of tRNA with regards to the genetic code.
We did not change the map from 64 to 20 (or 22) aminoacids because a smaller one from 32 to 20 is dependent on the tRNA model. But it is a minor aspect.
Reviewer 2 Report
The recent development of a COVID-19 vaccine by BIONTECH SE using the genetic code of a surface protein demonstrates urgently the importance to fully understand the genetic code that is responsible for the replication of living matter or even its destruction.
In this sense the paper with the title 'Complete Quantum Information in the DNA Genetic Code' is of great interest and should be quickly published. Nature's evolutionary strategy is from the beginning closely related to the most irrational number of the golden ratio being the number with the simplest finite continued fraction representation. The authors connect finite group theory with quantum information to completely unveil the DNA genetic code. In explaining the mapping of the nitrogeneous bases to amino acids, fivefold symmetry groups have been combined with the binary octahedral group giving sense to irrationalities in the character tables. A quartic polynomial and a related hyper-elliptic curve have been discussed. The last sentence of the conclusion gives an outlook on further possible developments, but this sentence should be corrected. I believe the authors are always aware of possible extensions.
The paper is well done, clearly understandable and the given references appropriate.
November, 11th 2020
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
We thank the reviewer for his optimistic comments about the paper.
