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Re:Gene Patent in Cancer Test Upheld by Appeals Panel by carbocation on Friday July 29, 2011 @11:33PM (#2824779)
That metaphor really only holds up if your "compiler" does nothing but remove comments (and introduce errors at a low rate).
Re:Gene Patent in Cancer Test Upheld by Appeals Panel by sliverstorm on Saturday July 30, 2011 @12:20AM (#2824855)
Obviously DNA is low level. This means it must be assembler- and assembly often is as simple as removing comments and translating "written" code into "machine" code.
Re:Gene Patent in Cancer Test Upheld by Appeals Panel by carbocation on Saturday July 30, 2011 @02:30AM (#2825076)
Yes, if your "compiler" translates "assembly with comments" to "assembly without comments," then your metaphor is apt.

Update: After reconsidering, I take it back. Introns are important, especially intron boundaries. So, my new assertion: so long as your "compiler" translates "assembly with comments" into "assembly with the same comments intact," then I agree that your metaphor is apt.

Re:Gene Patent in Cancer Test Upheld by Appeals Panel by sliverstorm on Saturday July 30, 2011 @03:28AM (#2825168)
So... compiler directives? ;)