Mathematical and Computational Approaches to Study The Genetic Code

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Background

The study of the mathematical structure of the genetic code, after an uproar in the 1990’s mostly inspired by group theory, extensively used in particle physics, is right now somewhat stagnating. Other mathematical techniques, such as number theory, graph theory, information theory, quantum groups, combinatorics, etc. have also been used these last years. On the other hand, another complementary aspect in the studies of the genetic code has been concerned with the search (and finding) of patterns, directly from experimental (chemical) data of the 20 amino acids, as structured by degeneracy, by symmetry, or by various geometric models or logical partitions of the 64 codons table (or the 88 codon-matrix), and also from the fundamental building blocks of DNA/RNA. In this context, several remarkable results were obtained these last years inviting us to go beyond the mainstream thinking.

The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together researchers from different disciplines, astrophysics, biochemistry, biophysics, mathematics, , molecular modeling and simulation etc. in a collection dedicated to the mathematical study of the genetic code and everything related to it. The great challenge in the study of the genetic code mathematical structure is to understand why there are 20 amino acids and why they exhibit the well-known degeneracy. This is fundamental because, except for the existence of minor deviations (non-standard genetic codes) and also the encoding of two rare amino acids, pyrrolysine and selenocysteine, the genetic code is universal, the same for all living beings on Earth, whatever their energy use mode (oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc.) or living location (land, dark underground, extreme environments, deep sea hydrothermal vents, etc.). This begs the question of its possible astrobiological relevance. A move away from the traditional "beaten tracks" is not prohibited; thinking “outside the box” is even encouraged if it contributes new, pertinent and significant new knowledge.

In this Research Topic, we welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Case Studies, Essays, that address, but are not limited to:

- The use of new group theoretical or geometrical methods, not yet considered, in the classification of the 64 codons and/or the 20 amino acids
- The use of number theory, or mathematical sequences, to describe the number of amino acids and their observed degeneracy and also the triplet nature of the codon
- The search of new symmetries in the genetic code table
- The mechanisms of formation of chemical patterns in bio-molecules
- The search of new chemical (elemental) patterns in the amino acids as structured in the 64 codons table
- The connection between the building-blocks of RNA/DNA and the amino acids
- The relevance and implication of the (quasi) universality of the genetic code in the context of astrobiology

Keywords: Genetic Code, Amino Acids, RNA, DNA, Symmetries, Patterns

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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