Molecular Evolution and Information

Information Using Coins
(Information Theory and Codes)

Coins have two possible outcomes when tossed, heads and tails. So to store and transmit more than two possible messages, the results of tossing a coin must be grouped. If coins are tossed and read three at a time, then eight messages can be assigned to 3 coins.

    The code is important because it assigns the messages. The code performs the function of the Spanish to English dictionary in figure 3.1. Consider the following code, and how it can be used to create a message (figure 3.2).


Coin 1    Coin2        Coin 3             Message
T             T               T                             The
T             T               H                             Cat
T             H              T                               Dog
T             H              H     coin code---->    Is
H             T              T                               Big
H             T              H                               Small
H             H              T                               Tall
H             H              H                               Short


Figure 3.2: How Coins Can be Transcribed and Translated

next: A four sided coin

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