Home of BioSeTI

Biological Search for Terrestrial Intelligence

A unique approach to analysis of the human genome

Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY


          Overview:   BioSeTI is a tongue-in-cheek title taken after the highly visible SETI project.  SETI is an acronym for “Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence” and was tasked at looking for identifiable (non-random) patterns in the electromagnetic noise coming from outer space in an effort to detect evidence of advanced life that may exist elsewhere in the universe.  BioSeTI is similarly tasked at identifying patterns, but in the molecular-world of what might be loosely termed 'terrestrial-space'. 

          BioSeTI is also a form of  Complexity Theory applied to analysis of the human genome. The human genome contains the instructions for the biological processes that make up the living organism.  These biological processes are carried out through the expression of DNA information through RNA and protein, but many higher levels of complexity exist beyond what is normally viewed as concrete and measurable.  The basic hypothesis of BioSeti is that the human genome may contain identifiable sequence patterns beyond what it is essential for growth and maintenance of the biological organism.  

        A possible implication of the results of BioSeti is that mainstream science has misdirected itself by its successes in technology using a reductionist approach.   BioSeti does not suggest that the current scientific method is invalid, but to the contrary, the scientific method might be self-validating.

           BioSeTI does not identify itself with 'Intelligent Design'.   Intelligent-design is a provocative term that is associated with the Darwin vs Creation dispute.  BioSeTI is not intended, openly or secretly, to become associated with either side of that dispute.  In the same fashion, BioSeTI does not identify with any philosophical tradition, although the BioSeTI project utilizes a philosophical approach to science.   BioSeTI is intended to be a scholarly pusuit in its most fundamental meaning:  seeking for answers because one is curious.

        Basic Proposal:    BioSeTI proposes many of the same premises as described in Dr. Robert Lanza's Biocentrism, although the BioSeTI project did not originate from biocentrism.  Biocentrism proposes that biology holds the key to answering some of the greatest riddles in science.  The BioSeTI project might help in reshaping the way science perceives the universe and the role that life has in it.  BioSeTI proposes that the emergence of complexity in the universe exists at much higher levels and that a greater correlation exists than popularly perceived by the scientific community.

         Rationale:  Preliminary evidence shows a surprisingly high correlation between ancient cultural and mystical traditions with contemporary discoveries in molecular biology.  These visible correlations suggest that there might be other patterns yet undiscovered.  More specifically, sequence and number patterns in DNA appear to correlate well to ancient cosmological traditions (eg. Chinese I Ching) as well as contemporary technology (including computing technology; binary mathematics) and, possibly, modern cultural traditions.  Such correlations may not be entirely coincidental.  Possible correlations of DNA to language even raises the incredible possibility that genomes might ultimately be decoded into symbols and cosmological ideas that are lacking in the current scientific perspective.  

         Research Strategies:    Current efforts are primarily focused in two directions:  (i)   Elucidating similar patterns between biological processes and ancient cosmological traditions, and (ii) Searching genome databases in an effort to test whether there are correlations of the cosmological ideas with sequence patterns contained in the genome.

         At the present time, we are developing tables that might ultimately be used in the conversion of the DNA sequence information into language.   This includes testing the validity of cosmological and molecular correlates using existing genome search engines.  Efforts are also being made to develop computer algorithms tasked specifically towards the analyses at hand.

        Results:   Preliminary work has already shown a correlation between redundancy grouping in the genetic code with a mathematical progression that predicts what redundancy grouping comes next.   Correlation also exists between the differences observed in comparison of the mitochondrial genome with nuclear genome in terms of these redundancy groups.   Basic correlations are binary, that is, on/off, symmetric/asymetric or connected/disconnected, and layers of higher complexity emerge from these fundamental relationships.  Theoretically, if newer changes were to occur in the nuclear genomic code, we could predict where they would be.  At the present time, we are exploring these relationships further as well as and putting them into a format that can be communicated via this website (ie. in the Project Pages below).  Implications of these results in terms of supporting our basic hypothesis are also planned for dissemination via this website.  

         Project Personnel: 

         Project Director:

photo rds
Randall D. Shortridge, Ph.D.
University at BuffaloDepartment of Biological Sciences
Cooke Hall, Room 109
Buffalo, NY 14260-1300

Office phone:  716-645-4920
FAX:  716-645-2975
email:  
email

        Student Assistants:    

Monis Alam Omkar Potnis Madupreet Kaur
Monis Alam Omkar Potnis Madupreet Kaur
Parth Shah Noopur Modi
Parth Shah Noopur Modi

         Statement about Student Assistants:  Undergraduate assistants and graduate assistants seeking Masters degrees are sought to work on this project when space is available.

        Project pages:   

            Responses to frequently asked questions.

            How this project got started.

(the following pages are unavailable at this time, see this statement)

            Theoretical Biology:  Biocentrism, Quantum Weirdness, and Apparent Chaos

            Purines/Pyrimidines, Binary Mathematics, and Fractal Emergence

            The Yin-Yang of the Genetic Code

            Pattern Correlations:  Coincidence or Concurrence?

            Holographic Model of Visual Apparati and Brain Function.

            Predictive Outcomes and Implications


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