How many MIPS does the Earth’s DNA crank

I’ve often wondered how much processing power the Earth’s DNA has. In a sense, genetic evolution seems to be a search function, not unlike a nervous system, always seeking to represent, in some transformed way, a match to its outside reality.

Hmmm. If there were some reasonable way to measure “MIPS” in a broad sense, then I imagine that some of the parallels ‘tween nervous systems and genetic evolution would be clearer than they are now.

Anyway, thinking of genetic evolution as being a “brain” brings up the question: Is it self-aware?

Which brings up the question of: What the heck does “self-aware” mean?

Or, another question: Does it, genetic evolution, that is, have intention? (I’m thinking that anything that is “self-aware”, whatever that means, probably has motives of some sort. Maybe not true, of course, but it sure feels ok to think so.)

Etc.

It’s the “etc” part that’s fun.

One thought on “How many MIPS does the Earth’s DNA crank

  1. Isn’t the construction of particular instincts an example of learning AND thinking ahead on the part of the DNA CPU?

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